An ecological momentary intervention for smoking cessation: The associations of just-in-time, tailored messages with lapse risk factors. (March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hébert, Emily T.; Stevens, Elise M.; Frank, Summer G.; Kendzor, Darla E.; Wetter, David W.; Zvolensky, Michael J.; Buckner, Julia D.; Businelle, Michael S.
• Is Part Of: Addictive behaviors. Volume 78(2018)
• Page Start: 30
• Page End: 35
• Publication Date: 2018-03
• Subjects: Smoking cessation -- Ecological momentary assessment -- Smartphone; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Drug addiction -- Periodicals; Nicotine addiction -- Periodicals; Smoking -- Periodicals; Gambling -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 362.29
• DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.10.026
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4603

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Smartphone apps can provide real-time, tailored interventions for smoking cessation. The current study examines the effectiveness of a smartphone-based smoking cessation application that assessed risk for imminent smoking lapse multiple times per day and provided messages tailored to current smoking lapse risk and specific lapse triggers. Methods: Participants (N = 59) recruited from a safety-net hospital smoking cessation clinic completed phone-based ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) 5 times/day for 3 consecutive weeks (1 week pre-quit, 2 weeks post-quit). Risk for smoking lapse was estimated in real-time using a novel weighted lapse risk estimator. With each EMA, participants received messages tailored to current level of risk for imminent smoking lapse and self-reported presence of smoking urge, stress, cigarette availability, and motivation to quit. Generalized linear mixed model analyses determined whether messages tailored to specific lapse risk factors were associated with greater reductions in these triggers than messages not tailored to specific triggers. Results: Overall, messages tailored to smoking urge, cigarette availability, or stress corresponded with greater reductions in those triggers than messages that were not tailored to specific triggers (p's = 0.02 to < 0.001). Although messages tailored to stress were associated with greater reductions in stress than messages not tailored to stress, the association was non-significant (p = 0.892) when only moments of high stress were included in the analysis. Conclusions: Mobile technology can be used to conduct real-time smoking lapse risk assessment and provide tailored treatment content. Findings provide initial evidence that tailored content may impact users' urge to smoke, stress, and cigarette availability. Highlights: Smartphones can be used to assess risk for smoking lapse in real-time. Smartphone apps can deliver just-in-time adaptive interventions to prevent lapse. Tailored messages may reduce users' urges to smoke and cigarette availability.