Smoke free text messaging program trial#

Mobile broadband reaches nearly one-half of the world’s population, and mobile phone text messaging (short message service, SMS) interventions are used by approximately 75% of adults.

Mobile technology offers an innovative way to reach smokers worldwide. New smoking cessation intervention delivery systems that have the capacity to reach smokers effectively and efficiently are urgently needed. Numerous barriers exist to accessing traditional in-person treatments including costs, time commitments, and other logistics such as travel and appointment scheduling. An estimated 90% of smokers attempt to quit (unsuccessfully) without assistance, even though effective evidence-based behavioral smoking treatments are available. The life expectancy of a smoker is shortened by approximately one decade compared with those who have never smoked however, smokers who quit before the age of 40 can reduce their risk of smoking-related death by 90%.

The global burden of tobacco use could be reduced if all smokers had access to smoking cessation programs. In the United States alone, tobacco use causes more than 480,000 deaths each year and costs nearly US$300 billion in health care and productivity losses annually. The global economic cost associated with tobacco use is estimated to be over US$1 trillion annually. Tobacco use is a major preventable public health problem resulting in nearly 6 million deaths from direct tobacco use and second-hand exposure per year. Using text messaging to support quitting behavior, and ultimately long-term smoking abstinence, should be a public health priority. Smoking abstinence rates were stronger when text messaging interventions (1) were conducted in Asia, North America, or Europe, (2) sampled fewer women, and (3) recruited participants via the Internet.Ĭonclusions: The evidence for the efficacy of text messaging interventions to reduce smoking behavior is well-established. The inclusion of the subsequent 13 RCTs (k=14) with 6870 smokers did not change the established efficacy of text message interventions for smoking abstinence (OR=1.37, 95% CI=1.25, 1.51, P<.001). Cumulative meta-analysis using the 18 studies (k=19) measuring abstinence revealed that the benefits of using text message interventions were established only after only five RCTs (k=5) involving 8383 smokers (OR=1.39, 95% CI=1.15, 1.67, P<.001). The effect size estimates were biased when participants who were lost to follow-up were excluded from the analyses. Text messaging interventions were also more successful in reducing cigarette consumption relative to controls (d +=0.14, 95% CI=0.05, 0.23, k=9). Smokers who received a text messaging intervention were more likely to abstain from smoking relative to controls across a number of measures of smoking abstinence including 7-day point prevalence (odds ratio (OR)=1.38, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.22, 1.55, k=16) and continuous abstinence (OR=1.63, 95% CI=1.19, 2.24, k=7). Results: The meta-analysis included 20 manuscripts with 22 interventions (N=15,593 8128 (54%) women mean age=29) from 10 countries. Summary effect sizes, using random-effects models, were calculated and potential moderators were examined. Raters coded sample and design characteristics, and intervention content.

Smoke free text messaging program trial#

Studies were included if they used a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to examine a text messaging intervention focusing on smoking cessation. Methods: Electronic bibliographic databases were searched for records with relevant key terms. Objective: The purpose of this meta-analysis is to (1) evaluate the efficacy of text messaging interventions on smoking outcomes, (2) determine the robustness of the evidence, and (3) identify moderators of intervention efficacy. Interventions delivered via text messaging (short message service, SMS) may increase access to educational and support services that promote smoking cessation across diverse populations. JMIR Perioperative Medicine 51 articlesĬenters for Behavioral and Preventive MedicineĮmail: Tobacco use is one of the leading preventable global health problems producing nearly 6 million smoking-related deaths per year.JMIR Biomedical Engineering 54 articles.Journal of Participatory Medicine 65 articles.JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies 149 articles.JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting 173 articles.Interactive Journal of Medical Research 225 articles.JMIR Public Health and Surveillance 839 articles.Journal of Medical Internet Research 6404 articles.

Smoke-free text messaging program