Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gxg78 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T17:42:23.909Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A content analysis of free smoking cessation mobile applications in the USA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 April 2019

JuHan Lee ,
Jesse Dallery ,
Antonio Laracuente ,
Ifeoma Ibe ,
Samantha Joseph ,
Jinhai Huo  and
Ramzi G. Salloum
JuHan Lee
Affiliation:
Department of Health Education and Behavior, College of Health and Human Performance, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Jesse Dallery
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Florida,Gainesville, FL, USA
Antonio Laracuente
Affiliation:
Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Ifeoma Ibe
Affiliation:
Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
Samantha Joseph
Affiliation:
Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
Jinhai Huo
Affiliation:
Department of Health Services Research, Management & Policy, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Ramzi G. Salloum*
Affiliation:
Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
*
Author for correspondence: Ramzi G. Salloum, E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Aims

To evaluate the quality and content of free smoking cessation apps and assess their adherence to the US Public Health Service guideline for treating tobacco use and dependence.

Methods

In total 180 apps were downloaded from the App Store and Google Play Store in January 2018; the top-ranking 30 apps were retrieved for the search terms: ‘smoking cessation’, ‘quit smoking’, ‘stop smoking’. Technical quality was rated using the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) and by assessing other characteristics, behavioral change strategies and adherence to the 5As.

Results/findings

A total 67 free-to-download apps were identified for full review (n = 40 from the Apple App Store and n = 27 from the Google Play Store). The average MARS score was 16.2/19.0: Engagement (3.3/5.0), Functionality (4.4/5.0), Aesthetics (4.0/5.0), and Information (2.6/5.0). Overall, 43 apps allowed sharing, 12 allowed for an app community, and five required a password. The following features were observed: assessment (n = 51), feedback (n = 38), information/education (n = 45), monitoring (n = 52), and goal setting (n = 23). Significant differences were found among apps adhering to the 5As: Ask (n = 44), Advise (n = 54), Assess (n = 30), Assist (n = 62), and Arrange (n = 0).

Conclusions

Given the growth in smoking cessation apps, future efforts should focus on improving their technical quality and adherence to the 5As.

Keywords

Mobile applicationsmoking cessation
Type
Original Articles
Information
Journal of Smoking Cessation , Volume 14 , Issue 4 , December 2019 , pp. 195 - 202
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2019 Published by Cambridge University Press 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abroms, L. C., Padmanabhan, N., Thaweethai, L., & Phillips, T. (2011). Iphone apps for smoking cessation: A content analysis. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 40(3), 279–285. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2010.10.032Google Scholar
Abroms, L. C., Westmaas, J. L., Bontemps-Jones, J., Ramani, R., & Mellerson, J. (2013). A content analysis of popular smartphone apps for smoking cessation. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 45(6), 732–736. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2013.07.008Google Scholar
Babb, S., Malarcher, A., Schauer, G., Asman, K., & Jamal, A. (2017). Quitting smoking among adults – United States, 2000-2015. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 65(52), 1457–1464. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6552a1Google Scholar
Backinger, C. L., & Augustson, E. M. (2011). Where there's an app, there's a way? American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 40(3), 390–391. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2010.11.014Google Scholar
Bennett, M. E., Toffey, K., Dickerson, F., Himelhoch, S., Katsafanas, E., & Savage, C. L. G. (2015). A review of android apps for smoking cessation. Journal of Smoking Cessation, 10(2), 106–115. doi:10.1017/jsc.2014.1Google Scholar
BinDhim, N. F., McGeechan, K., & Trevena, L. (2014). Who uses smoking cessation apps? A feasibility study across three countries via smartphones. Jmir Mhealth and Uhealth, 2(1), e4. doi: 10.2196/mhealth.2841Google Scholar
Bock, B. C., Graham, A. L., Sciamanna, C. N., Krishnamoorthy, J., Whiteley, J., Carmona-Barros, R. et al. (2004). Smoking cessation treatment on the internet: Content, quality, and usability. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 6(2), 207–219. doi:10.1080/14622200410001676332Google Scholar
Bricker, J. B., Mull, K. E., Kientz, J. A., Vilardaga, R., Mercer, L. D., Akioka, K. J. et al. (2014). Randomized, controlled pilot trial of a smartphone app for smoking cessation using acceptance and commitment therapy. Drug Alcohol Dependence, 143, 87–94. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.07.006Google Scholar
Bricker, J. B., Mull, K. E., McClure, J. B., Watson, N. L., & Heffner, J. L. (2018). Improving quit rates of web-delivered interventions for smoking cessation: Full-scale randomized trial of WebQuit.org versus Smokefree.gov. Addiction, 113(5), 914–923. doi:10.1111/add.14127Google Scholar
Buller, D. B., Borland, R., Bettinghaus, E. P.Shane, J. H., & Zimmerman, D. E. (2014). Randomized trial of a smartphone mobile application compared to text messaging to support smoking cessation. Telemedicine Journal and E-health, 20(3), 206–214. doi:10.1089/tmj.2013.0169Google Scholar
Burns, M. N., Begale, M., Duffecy, J., Gergle, D., Karr, C. J., Giangrande, E. et al. (2011). Harnessing context sensing to develop a mobile intervention for depression. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 13(3), e55. doi:10.2196/jmir.1838Google Scholar
Cheng, F., Xu, J., Su, C., Fu, X., & Bricker, J. (2017). Content analysis of smartphone apps for smoking cessation in China: Empirical study. JMIR Mhealth and Uhealth, 5(7), e93. doi:10.2196/mhealth.7462Google Scholar
Choi, J., Noh, G. Y., & Park, D. J. (2014). Smoking cessation apps for smartphones: Content analysis with the self-determination theory. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 16(2), e44. doi:10.2196/jmir.3061Google Scholar
Ferron, J. C., Brunette, M. F., Geiger, P., Marsch, L. A., Adachi-Mejia, A. M. & Bartels, S. J. (2017). Mobile phone apps for smoking cessation: Quality and usability among smokers with psychosis. JMIR Human Factors, 4(1), e7. doi:10.2196/humanfactors.5933Google Scholar
Fiore, M., Jaen, C. R., Baker, T. B., Bailey, W. C., Bennett, G., Benowitz, N. L., et al. (2008). A clinical practice guideline for treating tobacco use and dependence: 2008 update. A U.S. public service report. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 35(2), 158–176. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2008.04.009Google Scholar
Formagini, T. D. B., Ervilha, R. R., Machado, N. M., Bottaro de Andrade, B. A. B., Gomide, G. P., & Ronzani, T. M. (2017). A review of smartphone apps for smoking cessation available in Portuguese. Cadernos De Saude Publica, 33(2), e00178215. doi:10.1590/0102-311X00178215Google Scholar
Garcia-Rodriguez, O., Secades-Villa, R., Florez-Salamanca, L., Okuda, M., Liu, S. M., & Blanco, C. (2013). Probability and predictors of relapse to smoking: Results of the national epidemiology survey on alcohol and related conditions (NESARC). Drug Alcohol Dependence, 132(3), 479–485. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2013.03.008Google Scholar
Haskins, B. L., Lesperance, D., Gibbons, P., & Bourdreaux, E. D. (2017). A systematic review of smartphone applications for smoking cessation. Translational Behavioral Medicine, 7(2), 292–299. doi:10.1007/s13142-017-0492-2Google Scholar
Hicks, T. A., Thomas, S. P., Wilson, S. M., Calhoun, P. S., Kuhn, E. R., & Beckham, J. C. (2017). A preliminary investigation of a relapse prevention mobile application to maintain smoking abstinence among individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Dual Diagnosis, 13(1), 15–20. doi:10.1080/15504263.2016.1267828Google Scholar
IBM Corp. Released 2017. IBM SPSS statistics for windows, Version 25.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.Google Scholar
Jamal, A., Phillips, E., Gentzke, A. S., Homa, D. M., Babb, S. D., King, B. A. et al. (2018). Current cigarette smoking among adults – United States, 2016. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 67(2), 53–59. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6702a1Google Scholar
Koo, T. K. & Li, M. Y. (2016). A guideline of selecting and reporting intraclass correlation coefficients for reliability research. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 15(2), 155–163. doi:10.1016/j.jcm.2016.02.012Google Scholar
Krishna, S., Boren, S. A., & Balas, E. A. (2009). Healthcare via cell phones: A systematic review. Telemedicine Journal and E-health, 15(3), 231–240. doi:10.1089/tmj.2008.0099Google Scholar
Kumar, S., Nilsen, W. J., Abernethy, A., Atienze, A., Patrick, K., Pavel, M. et al. (2013). Mobile health technology evaluation: The mHealth evidence workshop. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 45(2), 228–236. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2013.03.017Google Scholar
Michie, S., Richardson, M., Johnston, M., Abraham, C., Francis, J., Hardeman, W. et al. (2013). The behavior change technique taxonomy (v1) of 93 hierarchically clustered techniques: Building an international consensus for the reporting of behavior change interventions. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 46(1), 81–95. doi:10.1007/s12160-013-9486-6Google Scholar
Paige, S. R., Alber, J. M., Stellefson, M. L., & Krieger, J. L. (2018). Missing the mark for patient engagement: MHealth literacy strategies and behavior change processes in smoking cessation apps. Patient Education and Counseling, 101, 951–955. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2017.11.006Google Scholar
Patrick, K., Griswold, W. G., Raab, F., & Intille, S. S. (2008). Health and the mobile phone. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 35(2), 177–181. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2008.05.001Google Scholar
Patrick, K., Rabb, F., Adams, M. A., Dillon, L., Zabinski, M., Rock, C. L. et al. (2009). A text message-based intervention for weight loss: Randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 11(1), e1. doi:10.2196/jmir.1100Google Scholar
Pew Research Center. (2018). Mobile Fact Sheet: Mobile Phone Ownership Over Time 2002-2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018, from http://www.pewinternet.org/fact-sheet/mobile/Google Scholar
Quinn, C. C., Shardell, M. D., Terrin, M. L., Barr, E. A., Ballew, S. H., & Gruber-Baldini, A. L. (2011). Cluster-randomized trial of a mobile phone personalized behavioral intervention for blood glucose control. Diabetes Care, 34(9), 1934–1942. doi:10.2337/dc11-0366Google Scholar
Riley, W. T., Rivera, D. E., Atienze, A. A., Nilsen, W., Allison, S. M., & Mermelstein, R. (2011). Health behavior models in the age of mobile interventions: Are our theories up to the task? Translational Behavioral Medicine, 1(1), 53–71. doi:10.1007/s13142-011-0021-7Google Scholar
Stoyanov, S. R., Hides, L., Kavanagh, D. J., Zelenko, O., Tjondronegoro, D., & Mani, M. (2015). Mobile app rating scale: A new tool for assessing the quality of health mobile apps. Jmir Mhealth and Uhealth, 3(1), e27. doi:10.2196/mhealth.3422Google Scholar
Thornton, L., Quinn, C., Birrell, L., Guillaumier, A., Shaw, B., Forbes, E. et al. (2017). Free smoking cessation mobile apps available in Australia: A quality review and content analysis. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 41(6), 625–630. doi:10.1111/1753-6405.12688Google Scholar
Ubhi, H. K., Kotz, D., Michie, S., van Schayck, O. C., Sheard, D., Selladurai, A. et al. (2016a). Comparative analysis of smoking cessation smartphone applications available in 2012 versus 2014. Addictive Behaviors, 58, 175–181. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.02.026Google Scholar
Ubhi, H. K., Michie, S., Kotz, D., van Schayck, O. C. P., Selladurai, A., & West, R. (2016b). Characterising smoking cessation smartphone applications in terms of behavior change techniques, engagement and ease-of-use features. Translational Behavioral Medicine, 6(3), 410–417. doi:10.1007/s13142-015-0352-xGoogle Scholar
Ubhi, H. K., Michie, S., Kotz, D., Wong, W. C., & West, R. (2015). A mobile app to aid smoking cessation: Preliminary evaluation of SmokeFree28. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 17(1), e17. doi:10.2196/jmir.3479Google Scholar
Zeng, E. Y., Vilardaga, R., Heffner, J. L., Mull, K. E., & Bricker, J. B. (2015). Predictors of utilization of a novel smoking cessation smartphone app. Telemedicine Journal and E-Health, 21(12), 998–1004. doi:10.1089/tmj.2014.0232Google Scholar