iPhone Apps for Smoking Cessation
Open accessAbstract
Background With the proliferation of smartphones such as the iPhone, mobile phones are being used in novel ways to promote smoking cessation.Purpose This study set out to examine the content of the 47 iPhone applications (apps) for smoking cessation that were distributed through the online iTunes store, as of June 24, 2009.Methods Each app was independently coded by two reviewers for its (1) approach to smoking cessation and (2) adherence to the U.S. Public Health Service's 2008 Clinical Practice Guidelines for Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence. Each app was also coded for its (3) frequency of downloads.Results Apps identified for smoking cessation were found to have low levels of adherence to key guidelines in the index. Few, if any, apps recommended or linked the user to proven treatments such as pharmacotherapy, counseling, and/or a quitline.Conclusions iPhone apps for smoking cessation rarely adhere to established guidelines for smoking cessation. It is recommended that current apps be revised and future apps be developed around evidence-based practices for smoking cessation.
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Smartphone apps may be a low-cost alternative to in-clinic cessation programs because they require no insurance or travel and can be tailored to cancer patients.
“Remotely delivered behavioral programs for smoking cessation such as smartphone applications (“apps”) may provide a low-cost alternative to in-clinic programs since apps do not require health insurance or travel, and can be specifically tailored to cancer patients’ needs.23,24”
From Efficacy of smartphone applications to help cancer patients quit smoking: Protocol of the Quit2Heal randomized controlled trial (2023) · cites this paper as [23]
The Discussion (page not provided) says evidence-based smartphone apps might become useful smoking-cessation tools. It does not describe them as a low-cost alternative to in-clinic programs, address insurance or travel, or discuss tailoring apps to cancer patients. (LLM, conf=0.85)
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The first mHealth app for managing cannabis use: gauging its potential helpfulness
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- Authors
- Abroms, L. C., Padmanabhan, N., Thaweethai, L., & Phillips, T.
- Affiliations
- George Washington University (US)
- National Cancer Institute (US)
- Academy for Educational Development (US)
- Venue
- American Journal of Preventive Medicine
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2011-03
- Volume
- 40
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 279-285
- ISSN
- 0749-3797 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3395318
- OpenAlex
- W2131438875
- Cited by
- 365
- References
- 14
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 36 · 2015: 49 · 2014: 46 · 2013: 47 · 2012: 26
- FWCI
- 27.26
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- American Journal of Preventive Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (R44DA035017, R34DA037042)
- National Cancer Institute (K07CA124579, R15CA167586, R01CA201873)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Smoking Behavior and Cessation
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
- Social Sciences › Health › Social Media in Health Education
- Keywords
- smoking cessation, iOS app, mobile health, iTunes Store, tobacco dependence treatment, pharmacotherapy, counseling, quitlines, app quality assessment, evidence-based practice
- MeSH terms
- Health Promotion, Humans, Tobacco Use Disorder, United States, United States Public Health Service, Smoking Cessation, Practice Guidelines as Topic, Evidence-Based Medicine, Guideline Adherence, Cell Phone
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