Accepted for/Published in: JMIR mHealth and uHealth
Date Submitted: Nov 5, 2018
Open Peer Review Period: Nov 8, 2018 - Nov 15, 2018
Date Accepted: Jan 7, 2019
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Impact of a Novel Smartphone Application “CureApp Smoking Cessation” on Nicotine Dependence: Prospective Single-arm Interventional Pilot Study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Mobile applications have been considered to provide active and continuous support for smoking cessation. However, it is yet to be known whether a smoking cessation smartphone application improves long-term abstinence rates in nicotine-dependent patients.
Objective:
We aim to evaluate the long-term abstinence effect of a novel smartphone application, CureApp Smoking Cessation (CASC), in patients with nicotine dependence.
Methods:
This study was a prospective, interventional, multicenter, single-arm study. We provided the CASC application to all the participants, who used it daily for 24 weeks. The CASC application includes features to maximize the therapeutic effect of pharmacological therapies and counseling at outpatient clinics for smoking cessation. The primary endpoint was a continuous abstinence rate (CAR) from weeks 9 to 24, while secondary endpoints were CARs from weeks 9 to 12 and 9 to 52.
Results:
Of the 56 adult smokers recruited, one did not download the application; therefore, 55 participants constituted the full analysis sample. The CAR from weeks 9 to 24 was 63.6% (35/55; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 51.3% – 76.0%), while the CARs from weeks 9 to 12 and 9 to 52 were 76.4% (42/55; 95% CI: 65.2% – 87.5%) and 58.2% (32/55; 95% CI: 45.6% – 70.8%), respectively. These CARs were better than the results of the national survey on outpatient clinics with regard to smoking cessation under the National Health Insurance Program and that of the varenicline phase Ⅲ trial in Japan and the United States. There was only one participant who dropped out during the 12 weeks of the treatment period. This treatment decreased the scores related to withdrawal and craving symptoms.
Conclusions:
The addition of CASC to usual smoking cessation therapies resulted in high CARs, high patient retention rates, and improvement of cessation-related symptoms. The smartphone application CASC is a feasible and useful tool to help long-term continuous abstinence that can be combined with a standard smoking cessation treatment program. Clinical Trial: University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN) Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN ID: UMIN000020123).
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