scholarly journals The Crush the Crave Quit Smoking App and Young Adult Smokers: Qualitative Case Study of Affordances (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura L Struik ◽  
Joan L Bottorff ◽  
Neill Bruce Baskerville ◽  
John L Oliffe
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Young Adult ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
End Users ◽  
Task Support ◽  
Quit Smoking ◽  
Quitting Smoking

BACKGROUND Mobile phone apps have emerged as a promising way to reach young adult smokers, given their high mobile phone ownership rates and openness to receiving cessation support via digital technologies. Although emerging evidence indicates that quit smoking apps are an effective way to reduce smoking among young adults, lacking is formative evaluative research that captures the perspectives of end-users. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to contribute insights toward understanding how young adults interact with the Crush the Crave (CTC) app, and how this interaction shapes young adults’ smoking cessation experiences and practices, with consideration of the influence of gender. METHODS Semistructured interviews were conducted with 31 young adult CTC end-users. Guided by sociomateriality theory and an affordances approach, data were inductively analyzed to derive thematic findings in relation to the impacts of CTC on quit efforts, and to expose the underlying affordances (mechanisms) that lend to these outcomes. Findings were grouped according to the 4 design components of CTC: credibility, social support, task support, and dialogue support. RESULTS The credibility component of CTC played an important role in harnessing the trust of young adults because it afforded them promise in relation to its potential effectiveness in assisting them with quitting smoking. The social support component lent to various end-user practices and experiences that rendered this aspect as the weakest component in supporting quit efforts. Although most functions situated in the task and dialogue support components were found to be helpful, there were a few affordances in CTC that resulted in negative experiences, notably weaning from smoking. Gender-related influences were also evident. For example, young men preferred to control and self-manage their quitting and, therefore, did not engage with functions that afforded journaling or reminding to stay on track. Women, in contrast, were more likely to benefit from these affordances. CONCLUSIONS An affordances approach is productive for gaining an in-depth understanding of how mobile apps interact with end-users to lend to particular outcomes. The study findings have implications for developing and improving apps for helping young adults quit smoking, as well as apps that target other health behaviors. Productive affordances may also serve as a framework for leveraging apps for smoking cessation.

scholarly journals Crush the Crave: Development and Formative Evaluation of a Smartphone App for Smoking Cessation (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neill B Baskerville ◽  
Laura L Struik ◽  
Darly Dash
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Young Adult ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Positive Reinforcement ◽  
Formative Evaluation ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Star Model ◽  
Task Support

BACKGROUND Emerging evidence supports the use of smartphone apps for smoking cessation, especially in young adults given their high smoking rates and high smartphone ownership rates. Although evaluative evidence is encouraging for supporting smoking cessation, there remains a paucity of research describing the design and development processes of mobile health (mHealth) interventions. OBJECTIVE The aim of this paper was to describe the process of developing Crush the Crave (CTC), an evidence-informed app to support smoking cessation in young adults, and the results of a formative evaluation of app usage behavior, as part of a broader program of research that seeks to establish the effectiveness of the CTC app. METHODS The Spiral Technology Action Research (STAR) 5-cycle model (listen, plan, do, act, and study) was employed to guide the development, implementation, and dissemination of CTC. The approach to development and formative evaluation included focus groups with young adult smokers (n=78) across 2 phases, analysis of the content of existing apps, 2 sessions with content experts, and Google Analytics to assess user behavior during a 12-month pilot. RESULTS LISTEN—focus groups revealed young adult smoker preferences of (1) positive reinforcement, (2) personalization, (3) social support, (4) quit support, (5) tracking the behavior, and (6) tracking quit benefits. PLAN—informed by evidence for smoking cessation, young adult preferences and an assessment of popular cessation apps, content experts produced a mind map and a storyboard describing app content and structure. DO—focus groups with young adult smokers provided feedback on the first version of the app with opinions on content and suggestions for improvement such as providing alerts and distractions from craving. ACT—refinements were made, and app content was organized using the 4 key design components informed by principles of persuasive technology for behavior change: credibility, task support, dialogue support, and social support. CTC was launched in April 2013 and piloted from the period July 2013 to June 2014 where 1987 Android users had 18,567 sessions, resulting in 59,384 page views and 89.58% (1780/1987) of users returning within the same day to use CTC. STUDY—a pragmatic randomized controlled trial of CTC was launched in August 2014 to demonstrate that including mHealth technology as a population-based intervention can help young adult smokers to quit. The results of this phase will be presented in a subsequent publication. CONCLUSIONS CTC is one of the first smoking cessation apps designed to meet the needs of young adult smokers. The development was informed by the inclusion of young adults in the design and the systematic application of multiple stakeholder input, scientific evidence, and theory. The STAR model approach was followed from the beginning of intervention development, which should facilitate optimization of mHealth interventions in the future. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01983150; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01983150 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6VGyc0W0i)

scholarly journals Flavor and Nicotine Effects on E-cigarette Appeal in Young Adults: Moderation by Reason for Vaping

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 732-743
Author(s):  
Adam M. Leventhal ◽  
Tyler B. Mason ◽  
Sam N. Cwalina ◽  
Lauren Whitted ◽  
Marissa Anderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Young Adult ◽  
Laboratory Experiment ◽  
Significant Trend ◽  
Quit Smoking ◽  
Main Effect ◽  
Quitting Smoking ◽  
Product Appeal ◽  
Smoking Interaction

Objectives: Effective regulations that reduce nicotine vaping among young adult dual (combustible and e-cigarette) users may differ depending on whether e-cigarettes are used for helping with smoking cessation. This laboratory experiment examined flavor and nicotine effects on e-cigarette product appeal among young adult dual users, stratified by reported use of e-cigarettes to quit smoking. Methods: Dual users aged 18-35 years that did (N = 31) or did not (N = 22) report vaping for the purpose of quitting smoking puffed e-cigarette solutions varied by a flavor (fruit, menthol, tobacco) and nicotine (nicotine-containing [6 mg/mL], nicotine-free) with-in-participant design. After puffing each solution, participants rated appeal. Results: In main effect analyses, non-tobacco (vs tobacco) flavors increased appeal and nicotine-containing (vs nicotine free) solutions reduced appeal similarly in dual users who did and did not vape to quit smoking. Interaction analyses found non-significant trend evidence that fruit and menthol flavors suppressed nicotine's appeal-reducing effects more powerfully in those that did not vape to quit smoking (flavor × nicotine × vape to quit smoking, ps = .05-.06). Conclusions: Non-tobacco flavors might increase e-cigarette product appeal in young adult dual users overall and disproportionately suppress nicotine's appeal-reducing effects in those that vape for purposes other than assisting with smoking cessation.

Association of BMI Changes Between Adolescence and Young Adulthood With Smoking Cessation

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 358-362
Author(s):  
Jerome F. Walker ◽  
Paul D. Loprinzi
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Young Adult ◽  
Young Adulthood ◽  
Smoking Status ◽  
High School Education ◽  
Quit Smoking ◽  
Bmi Trajectories

Purpose: Weight gain frequently accompanies smoking cessation. This study examined if increasing body mass index (BMI) during the early years of smoking influences quitting by young adulthood. Design: Longitudinal, observational study using in-home interview data. Setting: National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent and Adult Health (Add Health) 1994 to 2008. Subjects: Nine hundred forty-nine adolescent smokers (12-19 years) followed into young adulthood (20-32 years) through 4 waves of in-home interviews. Measures: Outcome variable: Young adult smoking status (yes or no) reported at in-home interviews. Factors: Gender and 4 longitudinal adolescent/young adult BMI trajectories—normal/normal, normal/overweight, normal/obese, and overweight/obese. Covariates: Race-ethnicity, education, household income, and recent quit attempt in adolescence. Analysis: Binary logistic regression analysis. Results: Overall, the rate at which young adults quit smoking was not significantly different based on gender. However, longitudinal changes in BMI trajectory and gender interact to influence young adult smoking status. Women having normal/overweight and normal/obese BMI trajectories were less likely to quit smoking than men. Odds that young adults having some college or post-high school education quit smoking were greater than those with high school education or less. Conclusion: At a minimum, providing direct information regarding anticipated weight changes after quitting is indicated in smoking cessation intervention, in addition to strategies to mitigate postcessation weight gain. Faced with weight gain, younger smokers, particularly women, may be more resistant to quitting smoking.

scholarly journals Effect of a Mobile Phone Intervention on Quitting Smoking in a Young Adult Population of Smokers: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neill Bruce Baskerville ◽  
Laura Louise Struik ◽  
Godefroy Emmanuel Guindon ◽  
Cameron D Norman ◽  
Robyn Whittaker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Young Adult ◽  
Mobile Technology ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Quit Smoking ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Continuous Abstinence

BACKGROUND Digital mobile technology presents a promising medium for reaching young adults with smoking cessation interventions because they are the heaviest users of this technology. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of an evidence-informed smartphone app for smoking cessation, Crush the Crave (CTC), on reducing smoking prevalence among young adult smokers in comparison with an evidence-informed self-help guide, On the Road to Quitting (OnRQ). METHODS A parallel, double-blind, randomized controlled trial with 2 arms was conducted in Canada to evaluate CTC. In total, 1599 young adult smokers (aged 19 to 29 years) intending to quit smoking in the next 30 days were recruited online and randomized to receive CTC or the control condition OnRQ for a period of 6 months. The primary outcome measure was self-reported continuous abstinence at the 6-month follow-up. RESULTS Overall follow-up rates were 57.41% (918/1599) and 60.48% (967/1599) at 3 and 6 months, respectively. Moreover, 45.34% (725/1599) of participants completed baseline, 3-, and 6-month follow-up. Intention-to-treat analysis (last observation carried forward) showed that continuous abstinence (N=1599) at 6 months was not significantly different at 7.8% (64/820) for CTC versus 9.2% (72/779) for OnRQ (odds ratio; OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.59-1.18). Similarly, 30-day point prevalence abstinence at 6 months was not significantly different at 14.4% (118/820) and 16.9% (132/779) for CTC and OnRQ, respectively (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.63-1.08). However, these rates of abstinence were favorable compared with unassisted 30-day quit rates of 11.5% among young adults. Secondary measures of quit attempts and the number of cigarettes smoked per day at 6-month follow-up did not reveal any significant differences between groups. For those who completed the 6-month follow-up, 85.1% (359/422) of young adult smokers downloaded CTC as compared with 81.8% (346/423) of OnRQ, χ21(N=845)=1.6, P=.23. Furthermore, OnRQ participants reported significantly higher levels of overall satisfaction (mean 3.3 [SD 1.1] vs mean 2.6 [SD 1.3]; t644=6.87, P<.001), perceived helpfulness (mean 5.8 [SD 2.4] vs mean 4.3 [SD 2.6], t657=8.0, P<.001), and frequency of use (mean 3.6 [SD 1.2] vs mean 3.2 [SD 1.1], t683=5.7, P<.001) compared with CTC participants. CONCLUSIONS CTC was feasible for delivering cessation support but was not superior to a self-help guide in helping motivated young adults to quit smoking. CTC will benefit from further formative research to address satisfaction and usage. As smartphone apps may not serve as useful alternatives to printed self-help guides, there is a need to conduct further research to understand how digital mobile technology smoking cessation interventions for smoking cessation can be improved. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01983150; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01983150 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6VGyc0W0i)

scholarly journals Comparison of Developers’ and End-Users’ Perspectives About Smoking Cessation Support Through the Crush the Crave App (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Louise Struik ◽  
Joan L Bottorff ◽  
N Bruce Baskerville ◽  
John Oliffe ◽  
Susan Crichton
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Young Adult ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
End Users ◽  
Multiple Perspectives ◽  
Overall Design ◽  
Quit Smoking ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Pros And Cons ◽  
Development Goals

BACKGROUND High smoking rates among end-users, combined with their high rates of app use, render this age group as a particularly captive audience for quit smoking apps. There is emerging evidence that apps are an effective way to support smoking cessation among end-users. How the expectations behind the design of apps align with the needs and preferences of end-users, and if this differs by gender, is poorly understood, limiting the ability to evaluate and scale these interventions. OBJECTIVE The objective of this qualitative case study was to detail how the overall design approach of Crush the Crave (CTC), a quit smoking app that targets end-users, compares with young adult women’s and men’s perspectives and experiences, with consideration for the influence of gender. METHODS Semistructured interviews were conducted with 15 developers involved in the development of CTC and 31 young adult CTC users. Data were analyzed inductively to derive thematic findings of the perceived pros and cons of CTC by both developers and end-users. Findings were grouped under 4 categories (1) technology and platforms utilized for the app, (2) foundation of app content, (3) underlying focus of the app, and (4) look, feel and functionality of the app. RESULTS Under the category, technology and platforms utilized for the app, it was found that both developers and end-users agreed that apps aligned with the needs and preferences of young adult smokers. Major limitations with the technology identified by end-users were the frequent “glitches” and requirement for internet or data. For the category, foundation of app content,developers agreed that the strength of CTC was in its strong evidence-base. What mattered to end-users, however, was that the content was packaged positively, focusing on the benefits of quitting versus the consequences of smoking. It was found under the category, underlying focus of the app, that the individually-led focus of the app resonated with both developers and end-users, especially young men. Under the final category, look, feel and functionality of the app, it was found that developers were very positive about the app's aesthetics but end-users thought that the aesthetics incited a negative effect. Also, while end-users found it easy to use, they did not find the app intuitive. Finally, end-users thought that, because the app functions were largely based on a user’s quit date versus their ongoing efforts, this often lent to unmeaningful data. CONCLUSIONS The current study findings highlight the importance of understanding multiple perspectives of stakeholders involved in a mobile-based intervention. By gathering the viewpoints of developers and end-users, both problematic and effective approaches that underlie development goals were revealed as a means of informing the development, implementation, and evaluation of future electronic health (eHealth) interventions.

On the Front Line of Smoking Cessation: Pharmacists' Practices and Self-Perception

2005 ◽  
Vol 138 (3) ◽  
pp. 32-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan M. Brewster ◽  
Mary Jane Ashley ◽  
Claudine Laurier ◽  
Rachel Dioso ◽  
J. Charles Victor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Front Line ◽  
Patient Counselling ◽  
Quit Smoking ◽  
Patient Interaction ◽  
Quitting Smoking ◽  
Knowledge Practice ◽  
Canadian Provinces ◽  
Brief Advice

Background: Pharmacists can be effective in helping patients to quit smoking, and opportunities for such interaction have been facilitated by legislative change making nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) available without prescription in Canada. However, there are no previous studies of Canadian pharmacists' preparation for, perception of, or practices regarding their roles in smoking cessation. Methods: Practising community pharmacists in four Canadian provinces were surveyed about their tobacco-related education and knowledge, practice environment, perceptions of their roles and practices related to helping people quit smoking, and factors perceived to facilitate tobacco-related practice. Results: A corrected response rate of 72% was obtained, giving a weighted n of 960 responses. Most pharmacists reported good or excellent knowledge of the health effects of smoking and the use of NRT in smoking cessation. Fewer reported being knowledgeable about behavioural approaches to quitting smoking. Advising patients about NRT was seen as a more important role for pharmacists than giving patients pamphlets or behavioural counselling. Pharmacists' reported practices corresponded to their knowledge and judged importance of roles; pharmacists were not proactive in approaching patients about smoking, but when smokers were identified, pharmacists gave brief advice about the use of NRT. Respondents reported that their smoking cessation practice was facilitated by their own knowledge and skills, patients' interest in quitting, opportunities for patient interaction, and the support of pharmacy management for patient counselling. Conclusions: Improving pharmacist education in patient counselling and behavioural approaches to smoking cessation would help to develop skills in initiating discussions about smoking and would give pharmacists a wider range of options to help patients quit smoking.

scholarly journals Effects of smoking cessation on biological monitoring markers in urine

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuya Kawasaki ◽  
Yun-Shan Li ◽  
Yuko Ootsuyama ◽  
Kazuhiko Nagata ◽  
Hiroshi Yamato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Tobacco Smoke ◽  
Smoking Status ◽  
Smoking Cessation Program ◽  
Tobacco Smoke Exposure ◽  
Urinary Cotinine ◽  
Quit Smoking ◽  
Urinary Levels ◽  
Quitting Smoking

Abstract Introduction Urinary nicotine and cotinine levels are often measured as biomarkers for tobacco smoke exposure. However, these biomarkers are not appropriate to evaluate the effects of quitting smoking for several days, because of their short half-lives. In this study, we focused on the changes in the urinary 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) levels of 55 patients in a smoking cessation program, because of the long half-life. At the same time, urinary 7-methylguanine (m7Gua) and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), as DNA damage markers of cigarette smoking, were also measured. Results In the subjects who completed the quit-smoking program (18 subjects out of 55), the urinary nicotine and cotinine levels decreased to 1.7 and 0.2% at 8 weeks after the first visit to the clinic. By contrast, the NNAL levels decreased to 12.3% at 8 weeks after quitting smoking. During the same period, the urinary m7Gua levels significantly decreased, from 27.32 μg/mg creatinine to 14.17 μg/mg creatinine by the elimination of subjects who showed increased levels of NNAL during the smoking cessation program. The 8-OHdG levels were also reduced within the same period, but were not significantly different. From the all data analysis, the urinary levels of cotinine and NNAL positively correlated with the level of m7Gua. Conclusions NNAL may be an appropriate exposure marker for evaluating the smoking status of patients in a smoking cessation program. The urinary cotinine and NNAL levels positively correlated with the m7Gua levels.

scholarly journals Change in smoking cessation stage over 1 year in patients with schizophrenia: a follow up study in Japan

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuji Higuchi ◽  
Masaki Fujiwara ◽  
Naoki Nakaya ◽  
Maiko Fujimori ◽  
Chinatsu Hayashibara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Smoking Status ◽  
Intention To Quit ◽  
Baseline Survey ◽  
Smoking Cessation Treatment ◽  
Follow Up Study ◽  
Quit Smoking ◽  
Quitting Smoking ◽  
Smoking Behaviors

Abstract Background We performed a follow up study about willingness and behaviors to quit smoking among smokers with schizophrenia in Japan. Methods Participants were outpatients with schizophrenia aged 20–69 years who had been visiting the hospital for ≥1 year as of April 1, 2016, and had visited the hospital more than once in the previous 6 months. A baseline survey on smoking behaviors including current smoking status and smoking cessation stage, was administered in 420 participants that were randomly extracted from a patient pool (n = 680) in 2016, and a follow-up survey was administered in 2017. We calculated the distribution and change in smoking cessation stage, number of smokers and nonsmokers after 1 year, and quitting rate from a naturalistic 1-year smoking-cessation follow up. Results The number of baseline respondents was 350; 113 current smokers and 68 former smokers. Among the 113 current smokers, 104 (92.0%) were followed for 1 year, 79 (70.0%) were interested in smoking cessation, and only 7 had received smoking cessation treatments at baseline. Among the tracked 104 participants, only 6 (5.8%) stopped smoking after 1 year. Among the 25 participants who had intentions to quit smoking within 6 months at baseline, 6 (24.0%) maintained their intention to quit smoking for 1 year, and 16 (64.0%) did not maintain their intention to quit smoking. Conclusions Our findings showed that many smokers with schizophrenia were interested in quitting smoking, but few patients received treatment and actually quit smoking. Timely intervention, including the option to receive smoking cessation treatment, is necessary for those patients with schizophrenia who smoke. Trial registration UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000023874, registered on August 31, 2016).

Empowered to stop smoking: The impact of a SDT smoking cessation intervention on economically disadvantaged whites and blacks

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1012-1012
Author(s):  
C. D. Figueroa-Moseley ◽  
G. C. Williams ◽  
G. R. Morrow ◽  
P. Jean-Pierre ◽  
J. Carroll ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Usual Care ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Health Behavior Change ◽  
Quit Smoking ◽  
Stop Smoking ◽  
Treatment Conditions ◽  
Quitting Smoking ◽  
Smoking Behaviors ◽  
The Impact

1012 Background: Few studies have examined the potential influence of an empowering Self Determination Theory (SDT) intervention on reducing smoking behaviors and outcomes for Whites and Blacks. Objectives: To determine if empowerment to stop smoking is associated with smoking outcomes in Whites and Blacks, and to examine if empowerment to stop smoking improved under the SDT Intervention vs. Usual Care conditions. Methods: A longitudinal randomized trial study was conducted to examine the effect of a SDT and health behavior change intervention for tobacco cessation among adult smokers. Participants were randomized into the SDT Intervention or the Usual Care condition. The present study includes data from a sample of 821 Whites and 177 Blacks who completed anonymous surveys at 1, 6, and 18-months intervals on empowerment to stop smoking (Perceived Competence Scale, Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire), demographics, and smoking behaviors. Results: Stepwise logistic regressions showed that empowerment to stop smoking was associated with quitting smoking at 1, 6, and 18 month follow-up for both treatment conditions. At one month, participants in the SDT Intervention with the highest levels of empowerment were 6.3 times more likely to quit smoking as compared with those in the usual care condition who were only 3.15 times as likely to quit smoking. Similar findings were found at 6 months and at 18 months (6- month SDT Intervention Empowerment High: (OR = 8.66, 95% C.I. 4.6, 16.3); 6 month Usual Care Empowerment High: (OR = 3.10, 95% C.I. 1.4, 7.0); 18- month SDT Intervention Empowerment High: (OR = 4.10, 95% C.I. 2.2, 7.5); 18 month Usual Care Empowerment High: (OR = 3.11, 95% C.I. 1.3, 7.7). In the SDT Intervention at 6 months being Black increased successful quitting by 2.4 times. Conclusions: Findings indicate that at each time-point the SDT Intervention empowered more participants to stop smoking than usual care alone. Findings also suggest that Blacks may increase their ability to stop smoking in the SDT Intervention condition. These preliminary findings highlight the need to further investigate the possible roles of empowerment interventions in smoking cessation among Whites and Blacks, especially cancer patients. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

scholarly journals Seasonal variation and change trends for quit smoking: evidence from Internet search engine query data

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dingtao Hu ◽  
Xiaoqi Lou ◽  
Nana Meng ◽  
Qiaomei Xie ◽  
Man Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Google Trends ◽  
Quit Smoking ◽  
Significant Seasonal Variation ◽  
Quitting Smoking ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Uk

Abstract Background: The outcomes of smoking have generated considerable clinical interest in recent years. Although people from different countries are more interested in the topic of quit smoking during the winter, few studies have tested this hypothesis. The current study aimed to quantify public interest in quitting smoking via Google.Methods: We use Google Trends to obtain the Internet search query volume for terms relating to quit smoking in major northern and southern hemisphere countries in this research. Normally search volumes for the term “quit smoking + stop smoking + smoking-cessation” were retrieved within the USA, the UK, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia from January 2004 to December 2018. Seasonal effects were investigated using cosinor analysis and seasonal decomposition of time series models.Results: Significant seasonal variation patterns in those search terms were revealed by cosinor analysis and demonstrated by the evidence from Google Trends analysis in the representative countries including the USA (pcos = 2.36×10-7), the UK (pcos < 2.00×10-16), Canada (pcos < 2.00×10-16), Ireland (pcos <2.00×10-16) ,Australia (pcos = 5.13×10-6) and New Zealand (pcos = 4.87×10-7). Time series plots emphasized the consistency of seasonal trends with peaks in winter / late autumn by repeating in nearly all years. The overall trend of search volumes for quitting smoking, observed by dynamic series analysis, has declined from 2004 to 2018.Conclusions: The preliminary evidence from Google Trends search tool showed a significant seasonal variation and a decreasing trend for the RSV of quit smoking. Our novel findings in smoking-cessation epidemiology need to be verified with further studies, and the mechanisms underlying these findings must be clarified.

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