JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of preventable death, and identifying novel treatment approaches to promote smoking cessation is critical for improving public health. With the rise of digital health and mobile applications, these tools offer potential opportunities to address smoking cessation, yet the usability of these apps and whether they offer scientifically based support for smoking cessation are unknown.

Objective:

We conducted a search of both Android and iOS app stores in July 2021 for apps related to keywords “smoking”, “tobacco”, “smoke”, and “cigarette” to evaluate apps for smoking cessation.

Methods:

Apps were screened for relevance, and trained raters identified and analyzed features associated with the APA app evaluation model including accessibility (i.e., cost), privacy, clinical foundation, and features of the apps using our systematic framework for the evaluation of mental health apps. We characterized apps available in July 2021 and November 2022.

Results:

We initially identified N=389 apps, excluded N=161 due to irrelevance/non-functioning apps and rated N=228, including N=152 available for Android platforms, N=120 available for iOS platforms. Our analysis of rated apps revealed limitations in the accessibility and features. While most apps ( > 78%) were free to download, over half had cost associated with in-app purchases or full use. Less than 65% had a privacy policy addressing data collected in the app. In terms of intervention features, > 56% of apps allowed the user to set and check in on goals, and > 46% provided psychoeducation, although only 2% provided cognitive behavioral therapy. Additionally, only 4 apps in 2021 and 13 apps in 2022 had published studies supporting the feasibility or efficacy for smoking cessation.

Conclusions:

Numerous smoking cessation apps were identified, but analysis revealed limitations with the usability of these apps, and notably, very few had scientifically based support. Findings underscore the challenge for consumers to identify relevant, evidence-based apps to support smoking cessation and emphasize the utility of a comprehensive evaluation system of mental health apps. Clinical Trial: Not applicable.