Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: Sep 21, 2021
Date Accepted: Dec 17, 2021
Preferences for mobile-supported e-cigarette cessation interventions among young adults: A qualitative descriptive study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Despite the steady rise in e-cigarette uptake among young adults, increasingly more young people want to quit. Given the popularity of smartphones among young adults, mobile-based e-cigarette cessation interventions hold significant promise. Smartphone apps are particularly promising due to their varied and complex capabilities to engage and end-user. However, evidence around young adults’ preferences and expectations from an e-cigarette cessation smartphone app remains unexplored.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to take an initial step towards understanding young adults' preferences and perceptions on app-based e-cigarette cessation interventions.
Methods:
Using a qualitative descriptive approach, we interviewed 12 young adults who used e-cigarettes and wanted to quit. We inductively derived themes using the framework analysis approach and NVivo 12 qualitative data analysis software.
Results:
All participants agreed that a smartphone app for supporting cessation was desirable. In addition, we found 4 key themes related to their preferences for an app: (1) flexible personalization (2) e-cigarette behavior tracking, (3) safely managed social support, and (4) positive-framed notifications.
Conclusions:
The findings provide direction for the development and testing of app-based e-cigarette cessation interventions for young adults.
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Copyright
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