Randomized, controlled pilot trial of a smartphone app for smoking cessation
using acceptance and commitment therapy.
Author(s): Bricker JB(1), Mull KE(2), Kientz JA(3), Vilardaga R(4), Mercer LD(2), Akioka
KJ(2), Heffner JL(2).
Affiliation(s): Author information:
(1)Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Division of Public Health Sciences, 1100
Fairview Avenue N., Seattle, WA 98109, USA; University of Washington, Department
of Psychology, Box 351525, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. Electronic address:
jbricker@fhcrc.org.
(2)Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Division of Public Health Sciences, 1100
Fairview Avenue N., Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
(3)University of Washington, Department of Human Centered Design and Engineering,
Box 352315, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
(4)Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Division of Public Health Sciences, 1100
Fairview Avenue N., Seattle, WA 98109, USA; University of Washington, Department
of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Box 356560, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
Publication date & source: 2014, Drug Alcohol Depend. , 143:87-94
BACKGROUND: There is a dual need for (1) innovative theory-based smartphone
applications for smoking cessation and (2) controlled trials to evaluate their
efficacy. Accordingly, this study tested the feasibility, acceptability,
preliminary efficacy, and mechanism of behavioral change of an innovative
smartphone-delivered acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) application for
smoking cessation vs. an application following US Clinical Practice Guidelines.
METHOD: Adult participants were recruited nationally into the double-blind
randomized controlled pilot trial (n=196) that compared smartphone-delivered ACT
for smoking cessation application (SmartQuit) with the National Cancer
Institute's application for smoking cessation (QuitGuide).
RESULTS: We recruited 196 participants in two months. SmartQuit participants
opened their application an average of 37.2 times, as compared to 15.2 times for
QuitGuide participants (p<0001). The overall quit rates were 13% in SmartQuit vs.
8% in QuitGuide (OR=2.7; 95% CI=0.8-10.3). Consistent with ACT's theory of
change, among those scoring low (below the median) on acceptance of cravings at
baseline (n=88), the quit rates were 15% in SmartQuit vs. 8% in QuitGuide
(OR=2.9; 95% CI=0.6-20.7).
CONCLUSIONS: ACT is feasible to deliver by smartphone application and shows
higher engagement and promising quit rates compared to an application that
follows US Clinical Practice Guidelines. As results were limited by the pilot
design (e.g., small sample), a full-scale efficacy trial is now needed.
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