A mobile app offering distractions and tips to cope with cigarette craving: A qualitative study

B Ploderer; W Smith; J Pearce; R Borland

Journal article

A mobile app offering distractions and tips to cope with cigarette craving: A qualitative study

B Ploderer, W Smith, J Pearce, R Borland

Jmir Mhealth and Uhealth | Published : 2014

DOI: 10.2196/mhealth.3209

Abstract

Background: Despite considerable effort, most smokers relapse within a few months after quitting due to cigarette craving. The widespread adoption of mobile phones presents new opportunities to provide support during attempts to quit. Objective: To design and pilot a mobile app "DistractMe" to enable quitters to access and share distractions and tips to cope with cigarette cravings. Methods: A qualitative study with 14 smokers who used DistractMe on their mobiles during the first weeks of their quit attempt. Based on interviews, diaries, and log data, we examined how the app supported quitting strategies. Results: Three distinct techniques of coping when using DistractMe were identified: div..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Wally Smith Author

Related Projects (1)

SOCIAL NETWORK SITES FOR AMBIVALENT SOCIALISERS: THE CASE OF SMOKING CESSATION

The aim of this project is to understand the potential of electronically-mediated engagement to support groups of ambivalent socialisers, an..

Grants

Awarded by Australian Research Council (ARC)

Awarded by Australian Research Council

Funding Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the Cancer Council Victoria and the Australian Research Council (ARC), grant LP110100046. We thank the late Steve Howard for his mentorship and support with this research.