Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: May 5, 2020
Date Accepted: Aug 17, 2020
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Perceptions of Mobile Apps for Smoking Cessation Among Young People in Community Mental Health Care: A Qualitative Study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Young adults with serious mental illness (SMI) are over twice as likely to have tobacco use disorder (TUD) than the general population and are less likely to utilize proven treatment methods during quit attempts. However, little research has evaluated the efficacy of interventions for this group. Smartphone apps may be an underutilized tool for TUD among young adults with SMI.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to explore attitudes toward smoking cessation apps and preferences regarding app design in young adult smokers with SMI.
Methods:
Five focus groups involving 25-35 year olds with SMI receiving treatment at a community mental health center were conducted between May and August of 2019. Three researchers independently coded transcripts and identified themes using thematic analysis.
Results:
Participants were 22 daily smokers: 10 (46%) self-identified as female, 20 (91%) self-identified as white, and 9 (41%) had psychotic disorders. Key themes that emerged included a general interest in using health apps; a desire for apps to provide ongoing motivation during a quit attempt via social support, progress tracking, and rewards; a desire for apps to provide distraction from smoking; concern about app effectiveness due to a lack of external accountability; and concern that apps could trigger cravings or smoking behavior by mentioning cigarettes or the act of smoking.
Conclusions:
Apps have the potential to support smoking cessation or reduction efforts among young adults with SMI. However, they may require tailoring, optimization, and clinical support to effectively promote cessation in this population.
Citation
