A new mobile application, developed under the guidance of researchers from the University of Oulu, has proven to be an effective aid for long-time smokers trying to quit stop smoking. A study conducted at Oulu University Hospital found that using the application tripled the success rate of smoking cessation compared to using written materials.
The mobile app that helps you quit smoking
The study, which appeared on The Lancet Regional Health – Europe involved 201 smokers who participated in lung cancer screening as part of the first Finnish pilot study on lung cancer CT screening, which started in Oulu in November 2022. Lung cancer CT screening was shown to reduce both the lung cancer than overall mortality in smokers, while providing an appropriate time to quit smoking.
All participants had a long and heavy history of smoking (≥15 cigarettes per day for at least 25 years or ≥10 cigarettes per day for at least 30 years). Participants were randomized into two groups: the study group, which used the mobile application, and the control group, which received written smoking cessation materials in line with current national counseling guidelines.
After a three-month follow-up, 20% of those using the app had stopped smoking, compared to 7% of the group who received written materials. This smoking cessation outcome was maintained at the end of the six-month follow-up period.
The results indicate that active use of the application significantly improved the chances of quitting smoking. Even among those who did not completely quit smoking, a larger share of mobile app users significantly reduced their smoking compared to the control group.
The smoking cessation application was developed by researchers is based on cognitive behavioral therapy. It aims to raise awareness of behaviors that worsen health and support the individual’s active role in regulating their own behavior. Features include weekly symptom surveys, mindfulness exercises and a virtual support person. The application is currently available for research purposes only.
This newly published study is reportedly the world’s first randomized clinical trial demonstrating the effectiveness of a mobile application for smoking cessation in combination with lung cancer CT screening. According to the researchers, the application can be easily integrated into the lung cancer screening process.
In further studies, the researchers will focus on studying the effectiveness of the smoking cessation mobile application outside the context of lung cancer screening and in combination with other smoking cessation methods.
#Effective #mobile #app #quitting #smoking #triples #chances #success
