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Tag: tobacco
04/25/2023

Mixed methods evaluation of vaping and tobacco product use prevention interventions among youth in the Florida 4-H program

Bteddini DS, LeLaurin JH, Chi X, Hall JM, Theis RP, Gurka MJ, Lee J-H, Mobley EM, Khalil GE, Polansky CJ, Kellner AM, Fahnlander AM, Kelder SH, Fiellin LE, Gutter MS, Shenkman EA, & Salloum RG. (2023). Mixed methods evaluation of vaping and tobacco product use prevention interventions among youth in the Florida 4-H program. Addictive Behaviors, 141, 107637–107637. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107637

This pilot study tested the delivery feasibility and outcomes of two programs, CATCH My Breath and smokeSCREEN, among youth in rural settings in Florida. Eighty-two youth participants (aged 11-17) were recruited from rural youth clubs in Florida and randomly assigned to one of three arms: CATCH My Breath, smokeSCREEN, and control (receiving educational flyers). CATCH My Breath and smokescreen are prevention interventions that focus on promoting healthy behaviors and increasing awareness of vaping and tobacco use. CATCH My Breath consists of four interactive modules on vaping prevention delivered over Zoom group sessions weekly for four w eeks. smokeSCREEN is a smoking and vaping prevention video game and was delivered individually to adolescents. Participants from both intervention arms were also invited join group Zoom discussions weekly for four weeks to discuss the game. Out of the participants in the intervention arms, 83.7% attended the majority of group Zoom sessions. After the intervention, CATCH My Breath participants showed significant improvement in tobacco knowledge (post-pre=3.3, p<.01) and risk perceptions for other flavored tobacco products (post-pre=1.6, p<.05). Post intervention, smokeSCREEN participants demonstrated significantly improved tobacco knowledge (post-pre=5.0, p<.01), e-cigarettes knowledge (post-pre=2.8, p<.01) and risk perception towards e-cigarettes (post-pre=2.8, p<.05). In the control group, only risk perception to cigarettes significantly changed (post-pre=1.1, p<.01). Findings show positive feasibility and immediate positive impact of these digital intervention games augmented by virtual group sessions. Future work is needed to differentiate the impact of digital games from that of virtual group discussions. Investigations with larger samples and a longer follow-up period to evaluate longer-term impact are needed.

Posted in: Cutting Edge Literature // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
11/21/2022

Technology a Powerful Tool in The Fight Against Tobacco

Article Excerpt: At the recent World Health Summit in Berlin, the WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the launch of the Tobacco Cessation Consortium. A mechanism set up to engage the private sector and other non-governmental actors, the Consortium hopes to unlock financing and enhance accessibility for support services for smokers around the globe, especially in developing countries where tobacco use is rising. As Dr Ghebreyesus highlighted, all possible tools must be brought to bear in the fight against tobacco—and advanced technologies are set to play a particularly important role.

Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/46ksdsnp

Article Source: Analytics Insight

Posted in: Emerging Technologies // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ;
11/02/2022

Digital Solution for Smoking Cessation Shows Positive Results in Randomized Trial

Article Excerpt: A behavioral change digital health company has announced positive results from a randomized controlled trial for its app-based digital tool for tobacco use cessation. Pivot’s tool provides evidence-based tobacco cessation interventions, an interactive breath sensor, human coaching, nicotine replacement therapy, a digital support community, as well as behavioral therapy, the company stated in a press release.

Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/5dhkv6fe

Article Source: Healio

Posted in: Emerging Technologies // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
02/28/2022

Characterizing and modeling smoking behavior using automatic smoking event detection and mobile surveys in naturalistic environments: Observational study

Zhai D, van Stiphout R, Schiavone G, De Raedt W, Van Hoof C. (2022). Characterizing and modeling smoking behavior using automatic smoking event detection and mobile surveys in naturalistic environments: Observational study. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2022;10(2):e28159) doi: 10.2196/28159

A study was conducted to enable quantified monitoring of smoking behavior 24/7 using continuous automatic measurement techniques to identify and analyze smoking patterns. Researchers conducted a 4-week observational study among 46 current adult smokers. Participants tracked their smoking behavior by using an electronic lighter and smartphone app called ASSIST. The lighter was connected to the app and participants were informed to solely used the provided lighter when smoking. The app was used to prompt smoking-related ecological momentary assessment questionnaires and smoking rate was assessed by the timestamps of smoking. The study acquired data from a total of 8639 cigarettes smoked and 1839 ecological momentary assessments over 902 participant days. Among most participants, self-reported estimates of daily smoking were inaccurate and biased compared to the objectively measured smoking rate. Specifically, 74% of smokers made more than one wrong estimate and 70% overestimated smoking instances. Compared to light smokers, moderate and heavy smokers were significantly older in age and higher in nicotine dependence, craving, arousal, and difficulty resisting smoking. Results indicate that electronic lighters have potential for smoking behavior data in the real world. Technology-based methods for smoking behavior monitoring can be beneficial for smoking cessation applications. The study lends insights for future design and implementation of technology-based smoking cessation applications.

Posted in: Cutting Edge Literature // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ;
10/04/2021

Engagement with a digital therapeutic for smoking cessation designed for persons with psychiatric illness fully mediates smoking outcomes in a pilot randomized controlled trial

Browne J, Halverson TF, Vilardaga R, Engagement with a digital therapeutic for smoking cessation designed for persons with psychiatric illness fully mediates smoking outcomes in a pilot randomized controlled trial, Translational Behavioral Medicine, Volume 11, Issue 9, September 2021, Pages 1717–1725, https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibab100

This study investigated the meditational effect of a digital therapeutic for smoking cessation for adults with psychiatric disorders. Participants were 62 adults with severe mental illness who currently smoked, were adherent to psychiatric treatment, and lived in stable housing. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a tailored smartphone app for persons with severe mental illness (Learn to Quit) or a smartphone app with health information for the general population (NCI QuitGuide). The Learn to Quit app includes 28 modules that provide information, skills, and recommendations for smoking cessation based on acceptance and commitment therapy. The study measured engagement by collecting background data of app utilization, such as number of interactions with app content, amount of time per day of app use, and number of days the app was used. The study also evaluated smoking cessation by reduction in cigarettes per day from baseline to the four-month follow-up. Results showed that number of app interactions fully mediated reduction in cigarettes per day in the Learn to Quit arm, but not in the NCI QuitGuide arm. Minutes per day of app use and number of days used were not significant mediators. These findings indicate that engagement with theory-based content in Learn to Quit functioned as intended.

Posted in: Cutting Edge Literature // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ; ;
07/26/2021

Smoking cessation avatar-led Acceptance and Commitment Therapy digital intervention: Feasibility and acceptability in young adults

Karekla M, Savvides SN. (2021). Smoking cessation avatar-led Acceptance and Commitment Therapy digital intervention: Feasibility and acceptability in young adults. Translational Behavioral Medicine, 11(1), 198–205. https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibz128

A study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of an avatar-led digital intervention for smoking cessation in youth. The six-session intervention is based on the principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). The program used avatars as interactive digital characters serving as coaches. Forty-nine participants ages 18-28 years who reported to be regular smokers with Internet access were recruited at three universities in Cyprus. The intervention included six 25-minute sessions covering topics such as external and internal triggers to smoking, present-moment awareness, mindfulness, and relapse prevention. Participants were instructed to space out the sessions at least three days in between each session. At the end of each session, the study collected participants’ satisfaction with the treatment session and perceived helpfulness for quitting. Participants were also asked open-ended questions to gather feedback and suggestions for improvement. After the end of the intervention period, participants completed assessment questionnaires of satisfaction and feedback (0=not at all satisfied to 10=very satisfied). Overall, participants reported that the program was satisfactory, useful, and motivating. Participants’ open-ended comments indicated the intervention videos, games, and metaphors were positively received more than the graphics and avatars. Participants’ recommendations included modifications for more reality-based user experiences and more avatar interactivity. Findings indicate that the avatar-led digital ACT intervention was acceptable and satisfactory for smoking cessation among young adults.

Posted in: Cutting Edge Literature // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
07/02/2021

Effectiveness of a web-based tobacco product use prevention videogame intervention on young adolescents’ beliefs and knowledge

Hieftje K, Fernandes C, Lin I, Fiellin L. (2021). Effectiveness of a web-based tobacco product use prevention videogame intervention on young adolescents’ beliefs and knowledge. Substance Abuse. 42(1): 47-53. doi: 10.1080/08897077.2019.1691128

Researchers recruited adolescents (n = 560) age 10–16 years from schools and afterschool programs across the U.S. to participate in a study of the effectiveness of a web-based videogame tobacco prevention intervention, smokeSCREEN. Informed by social cognitive theory and the theory of planned behavior, the intervention facilitates tobacco use prevention in adolescents by increasing knowledge and promoting healthy beliefs around combustible cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vaping, and flavored tobacco product use. smokeSCREEN comprises two mini-games: Refusal Power (players practice refusing peers in risky situations involving tobacco products, with a focus on vaping and JUUL vapes) and Knew Sense (provides tobacco use information, which players practice applying through role-play with a cartoon peer character). Participants accessed smokeSCREEN through a private, password-protected website during school or in an afterschool program. Total game time was one to two hours. Participants completed a survey on knowledge and beliefs about tobacco product use at baseline and post-intervention through a secure website. At post-intervention, participants also answered questions on gameplay experience. Analysis revealed significant increases in the proportions of correct survey answers between baseline and post-intervention for all six questions about knowledge of tobacco product use. Participants also demonstrated significant improvement in the number of correct answers for seven of the eight total questions on beliefs about tobacco product use from baseline to post-intervention. Seventy-six percent of participants reported learning something new from playing smokeSCREEN, 69% enjoyed the game, and 58% would recommend smokeSCREEN to friends. Results suggest that smokeSCREEN has a beneficial effect on participant knowledge and beliefs about tobacco product use and is acceptable to adolescents.

Posted in: Cutting Edge Literature // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
06/15/2021

Text Message Vaping Intervention May Help Young Adults Quit

Article Excerpt: A text message-based intervention promotes vaping cessation in young adults, according to study results published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Although e-cigarettes, aka vaping, are the most common type of tobacco use among adults age 18 to 24, there are few, if any vaping cessation programs available. The researchers developed an intervention based on text messages as a possible solution.

Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/adva3dk5

Article Source: Psychiatry Advisor

Posted in: Emerging Technologies // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
06/03/2021

FDA Unveils Campaign to Support Tobacco Smokers Quit Smoking

Article Excerpt: The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has launched a year-long campaign dubbed: “Commit to Quit,” aimed at supporting tobacco smokers to abandon smoking as it poses enormous health hazards on their wellbeing. Activities of the campaign will include rolling out of routine public education in schools, market places and transport terminals to serve as a platform for speaking on specific challenges smokers encounter in their quest to quit tobacco smoking. The crusade would advocate stronger tobacco cessation policies, increase access to cessation services, raise awareness of tobacco industry tactics and empower smokers to make successful quit attempts through “quit and win” initiatives.

Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/zdzscf95

Article Source: Ghana Web

Posted in: Regulation & Policy // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;