Short-term Evaluation of a Mobile Phone Application Intervention in achieving Smoking Cessation: Randomised Control Study Protocol (Preprint)
Authors: Alsharif Abdullah 
Published: July 2018

BACKGROUND

The use of tobacco is one of the major reasons for various chronic diseases and death across different nations. In addition, tobacco usage is also one of the major causes of financial burden among many people in developing and under developed countries, which in turn creates financial burden on the respective countries for public health management. Recent studies in Saudi Arabia reflected an enormous growth in the number of smokers, an increase in the spending on public health and adopting e-health technologies for disease management, including smoking cessation programmes. However, these programs used very little or no technology constraints for achieving smoking cessation in the country. Adults are those among the population who are quickly getting addicted to smoking, and consequently adults are those who are aware and updated with use of latest mobile technologies in their daily life, whether it is a smart phone or different technological devices like automatic BP monitoring machine or Blood glucose monitor. It is evident from the recent studies that mobile technologies in the field of medicine and health management can achieve effective results while minimizing the costs and improving the health by better disease management and education. As the young population is the inclined towards using new technologies, the mobile technology could be a promising medium to reach the targeted population who are smokers in achieving smoking cessation.

OBJECTIVE

The primary aim of this trial is to determine the effectiveness of an evidence – informed mobile phone application, SMOKE MIND, developed tailored according to the needs of the people and for achieving smoking cessation in Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

A parallel randomized controlled trial (RCT) with two parallel arms, intervention group and control group is conducted for a period of 4 weeks, with 13 smokers/participants in each group. The participants in control group receive only standard care, while the participants in the intervention group receive standard care plus the system (SMOKE MIND) intervention, which would allow them to have high medium of communication with medical staff and also to obtain educational and motivational materials through the system, which is an hybrid model integrating m-health technologies and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The primary outcome of the study would be determining the effectiveness of the mobile application, SMOKE MIND in achieving smoking cessation, which would be determined at the end of 4 weeks study. At the end of the study, the smokers in the intervention group are requested to fill the usability questionnaire of the mobile application they used, and also questionnaire related to the self-efficacy for smoking cessation. The secondary outcome would determine the effectiveness and efficiency of the usability features of the mobile application based on the results from the usability questionnaire, and also the self-efficacy aspect for smoking cessation. The major outcome of the study would be assessed on long term basis, by identifying the number of participants in achieving smoking cessation at the periods of 6 months, 1 year, and 18 months after the trial.

RESULTS

The mobile health application, SMOKE MIND appears to be effective in achieving smoking cessation in short-term period. The participants in intervention group achieved lower CO levels compared to those in control group. The number of participants who quit smoking is higher in intervention group than that of control group.

CONCLUSIONS

the effectiveness of evidence – informed mobile application, SMOKE MIND for smoking cessation appears to be positive in short-term. Further trials with large sample population might be helpful in wide analysis of the m-health technologies integrated with CBT. However, long term results

CLINICALTRIAL

this study was in Saudi Arabia, the study has ethical approval from Kingston University, London; and Tobacco Control Program, Al-Madinah In Saudi Arabia, the study has no Registration no, however they issued ethical approval instead as the policy over their.