Program Reviews

Learn to Quit

Implementation research has been conducted for this program.

Program Overview

Learn to Quit is a smoking cessation mobile app developed specifically for co-occurring serious mental illness (SMI). Learn to Quit is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) approaches to smoking reduction as well as US clinical practice guidelines. Within the mobile app aspects of storytelling, gamification, and design simplicity have been co-designed, and rigorously piloted to be effective for individuals with SMI. Every day users are guided through one “lesson” and one “skill” module where they can earn tokens, engage in challenges, and master key skills. Lesson modules teach smoking cessation content that is appropriate for individuals with cognitive impairment. Skill modules allow users to put the information learned in lesson modules into practice. Providing users complete modules when prompted, Learn to Quit takes 14 days to complete.

Last Updated 2/17/2025

Delivery:
Mobile App

Theoretical Approach:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Target Substances:
Tobacco

Target Outcomes:
Smoking reduction

Age:
Adult (18+)

Gender:
Male
Female

Race:
White
Black
Asian
>1 race

Ethnicity:
Not Hispanic

Setting:
Urban/Suburban

Geographic Location:
United States of America

Language:
English

Index Study Publication Date:
October 7, 2022

Evaluations

  • Study Design: Pilot RCT

    Study Type: Feasibility, acceptability, efficacy

    Sample Size: N = 62

    Demographics:

    Age
    Adult: 46.1 (SD = 11.3)

    Gender
    Female: 64%
    Male: 36%
    Transgender: Not reported
    Non-Binary+: Not reported

    Race
    White: 49%
    Black: 42%
    Asian: 3%
    American Indian or Alaska Native: 0%
    >1 race: 6%

    Ethnicity
    Hispanic: 0%

  • Study Design: RCT

    Study Type:  acceptability / usability

    Sample Size: N = 33

    Demographics:

    Age
    Adult: 46.1 (SD = 11.3)

    Gender
    Female: 64%
    Male: 36%
    Non-Binary+: Not reported

    Race
    White: 49%
    Black: 42%
    Asian/Pacific Islander: 3%
    North American Native: 0%
    >1 Race: 6%

    Ethnicity
    Hispanic: 0%

  • User-Centered Design of Learn to Quit, a Smoking Cessation Smartphone App for People With Serious Mental Illness. Vilardaga R, Rizo J, Zeng E, Kientz J, Ries R, Otis C, Hernandez K. JMIR Serious Games. 2018;6(1):e2. doi:10.2196/games.8881

    Formative, multimethod case studies of learn to quit, an acceptance and commitment therapy smoking cessation app designed for people with serious mental illness. Vilardaga R, Rizo J, Ries RK, Kientz JA, Ziedonis D, Hernandez K, McClernon F. Transl Behav Med. 2019. 9(6):1076-1086. doi:10.1093/tbm/iby097

    Mobile Applications for the Treatment of Tobacco Use and Dependence. Vilardaga R, Casellas-Pujol E, McClernon JF, Garrison KA. Curr Addict Rep. 2019. 6(2):86-97. doi:10.1007/s40429-019-00248-0

    Current Status and Future Trends of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Smoking Cessation: A Narrative Review with Specific Attention to Technology-Based Interventions. Rostami M, Moheban F, Davoudi M, Heshmati K, Taheri AA. Addict Health. 2022. 14(3):229-238. doi:10.34172/ahj.2022.1225

    Smoking Cessation Apps for People with Schizophrenia: How Feasible Are m-Health Approaches? Sawyer C, Hassan L, Guinart D, Agulleiro LM, Firth J. Behav Sci (Basel). 2022.12(8). doi:10.3390/bs12080265

    Summary: https://www.c4tbh.org/smoking-cessation-apps-for-people-with-schizophrenia-how-feasible-are-m-health-approaches/

    A systematic review of digital interventions for smoking cessation in patients with serious mental illness.Martinez Agulleiro L, Patil B, Firth J, Sawyer C, Amann B, Fonseca F, Torrens M, Perez V, Castellanos F, Kane J, Guinart D. Psychol Med. 2023. 53(11):4856-4868. doi:10.1017/S003329172300123X

    Smokers’ user experience of smoking cessation apps: A systematic review. Zhang M, Wolters M, O’Connor S, Wang Y, Doi L. Int J Med Inform. 2023. 175:105069. doi:10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2023.105069