We previously reviewed and praised the outstanding QuitMedKit from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and the also excellent SmokerStop app. QuitMedKit includes almost everything a primary care provider would need for tobacco cessation, while SmokerStop uses personal motivation to help patients quit. Also, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has its own tobacco cessation app, QuitGuide, that helps patients quit by avoiding their triggers. But is avoidance of trigger the best way to help patients quit?
According to Jonathan Bricker, PhD, it is not. He has pioneered the use of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to help patients quit smoking. He has performed numerous trials at the Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center utilizing ACT in face-to-face, telephone, and internet-based treatments with great success. Several years ago (we previewed SmartQuit back in 2016), he partnered with 2Morrow to design an app that brings ACT for tobacco cessation to the smartphone. (In full disclosure, I served as principal investigator for a pilot study of SmartQuit.)
Our results were promising, but not conclusive. Now Bricker and the Fred Hutch team have published a large RCT comparing the iCanQuit app to the NCI app — ACT (embracing your triggers) versus NCI app (avoid your triggers). The study enrolled over 2,500 participants and demonstrated a significant improvement in cessation with iCanQuit over the NCI app. iCanQuit users had higher probability (odds ratio 1.49) of quitting as defined by self-reported 30-day abstinence. Furthermore, this study followed participants out to 12 months.
iCanQuit utilizes a game-like format to guide users to complete a custom quit plan, complete 14 lessons, and accept (rather than avoid) triggers via exercises, reminders, and progress tracking. The app can be used with or without NRT and can send users daily messages/reminders and live coaching. 2Morrow has an entire platform based on ACT to help not only with tobacco cessation, but vaping, weight loss, and chronic pain.
Likes
- Simple interface for creating a customized quit plan
- ACT-based, game-like platform for lessons, exercises, tools, online/live coaching
- Available for Android
Dislikes
- Likely still need medical assistance with NRT or other for success
- Currently not widely available
- Requires smartphone, not available for some patients
This post appeared on iMedicalApps.com.
Source: MedicalNewsToday.com
