NCI’s Smokefree.gov Teen Texting Smoking Cessation Program
ITU Meeting: mHealth & Tobacco Control
October 27, 2011
Erik Augustson, PhD, MPH
Behavioral Scientist
Tobacco Control Research Branch Behavioral Research Program National Cancer Institute
National Institutes of Health
U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services Smokefree Development Team
NCI
Erik Augustson
Ami Bahde
Yvonne Hunt
Heather Patrick
MMG
Shani Taylor**
Lewellyn Belber
Alison Pilsner
Samantha Post
Amy Sanders
* Funded in part by NCI Contract No.
HHSN261200800001E; HHSN261200544018C, NO2PC-54418; and HHSN2612007000191
Additional Support
Lorien Abroms
Rachel Grana
Robin Mermelstein
Nalini Padmanabhan
Allison Rose
Mary Schwarz
Robyn Whittaker
Teens & mHealth
• Pervasiveness of mobile technology among teens
 75% of teens age 12‐17 own a cell phone
Daily teen texting: 38% in 2008, 54% in 2009
 1 in 3 teens send 3000 texts/month
vs
Data: PEW “Teens and Mobile Phones”; Lenhart, Ling, Campbell, & Purcell, 2010 vs
QuitSTART Mobile Application (“App”)
• Free mobile app designed as an intervention resource to help teens quit smoking
• Can help teens who have already quit smoking by allowing them to monitor their smokefree progress
• Features:
 Monitor progress toward smokefree milestones
 Upload personalized motivators & reminders
 Receive tips related to cravings, mood, & triggers
 Learn to identify triggers & mood management techniques
 Connect with others who are trying to quit smoking
Teen SmokefreeTXT
•Text messaging program designed as a smoking cessation intervention for teens ready to quit smoking
 Messages sent for up to 4 weeks pre‐quit and up to 6 weeks post quit date
 Free with unlimited texting plan (*SmokefreeTXT Lite)
• Information collected from user at sign‐up
 Mobile #, age, gender, quit date, & smoking frequency
• Program assesses user’s mood, craving, & smokefree
status
• User can text keywords (i.e. WANT, BOOST, UHOH)
• User can opt‐out any time by texting STOP to iQUIT
SmokefreeTXT: Message Structure
• Timed
 Messages built around the user’s quit date
 Topics: motivation, information, & actionable tips
 6 weeks of messages with a 2‐week countdown
 1, 3, and 6 month follow‐up • Assessment
Keywords:
 Weekly assessment of craving level, mood, & smokefree status WANT
• Keyword
 User’s can text these messages to iQUIT
at any time for extra support
‐
BOOST
‐
UHOH
QuitNowTXT Program
• Text messaging library developed to provide outside organizations an algorithm/database of messages
designed to serve as a smoking cessation intervention
• Designed as a resource that can be adapted to specific contexts (i.e. international, other languages)
• Free to download: http://smokefree.gov/hp.aspx
Conclusion
…immense potential for mobile technologies to be used as a vehicle to impact health awareness, behavior change, & social support among teens…
•Future Directions
 Opt‐in via text message to iQUIT (47848)
SmokefreeTXT for Spanish‐speaking audiences
Demographic segmentation
In‐depth evaluation of SmokefreeTXT
Thank You
smokefree.gov
[email protected]
@SmokefreeGov
*teen.smokefree.gov will launch end of October 2011.