January 4, 2025, 4:14 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
Quitting smoking is a resolution that many people make for the new year. However, this goal is often not so easy due to the physical and psychological dependence on tobacco. However, a study now claims to have found out how this resolution could possibly be supported.
20.1 percent of people in Germany smoke, which equates to almost 17 million people.1 Every year, around 127,000 people die as a result of long-term tobacco consumption – this and the long list of risk factors underline just how damaging smoking is to health. Because quitting is often not easy due to tobacco addiction, there are more and more products and treatment options. These include weaning chewing gum and hypnosis. Scientists at the University of Bristol have also discovered another method that can help people quit smoking. If you want to stop smoking, you should apparently consider using a smartwatch in combination with an app.
Overview
Wearing a Smartwatch
In order to investigate how helpful smartwatches and corresponding apps can be for smoking cessation, the scientists worked out a suitable study design. More specifically, the aim was to define how exactly the app should be linked to the smartwatch. They determined that short text messages from the app would appear on the smartwatch to motivate smokers to quit.2 These served the following purposes:
- Challenging problematic cognitions to encourage participants to continue the quit attempt despite a (possible) relapse and reducing feelings of helplessness or loss of control.
- Making it easier to deal with emotions during smoking cessation.
- Creating a sense of connection through text messages.
- Making it easier to avoid relapse.
The text messages were developed in collaboration with another study at the University of Bristol. This study produced a series of supportive messages about smoking.
Smartwatch Detects Smoking Attempts
A commercially available smartwatch was used for the study. A StopWatch detection system for the passive detection of cigarette smoking was validated on these devices. This system was developed in advance by observing the eating, drinking, and smoking behavior of smokers in a laboratory for 24 hours, allowing various parameters to be defined that mark smoking.
Recruitment of Smokers
For their study, the scientists recruited 18 people between the ages of 18 and 70 who smoked cigarettes every day. Another requirement was that the participants actively wanted to stop smoking and were willing to wear a smartwatch. Furthermore, the subjects had to smoke habitually with their right hand.
In the beginning, the test subjects were sent a smartwatch with the StopWatch detection system by post. The participants wore the device for two weeks at a time, allowing it to record data throughout their daily lives. They were only asked to take the watch off at bedtime to charge it each night. After two weeks, the test subjects returned the smartwatch and completed a questionnaire. This was used to assess compliance with the study guidelines.
Smartwatch Positively Influences Quit Attempts
After analyzing the data from the smartwatches, the scientists were able to determine a median wearing time of 10.6 hours per day. With regard to the effectiveness of the text messages that the participants received on their smartwatch, the overall opinion was positive. For example, 61% stated that the text messages were relevant to them in terms of motivating them to stop smoking. According to the participants, the messages basically “raised their awareness of smoking, gave them a more positive feeling about quitting, made them smoke a little less, made them pause and think, constantly encouraged them, and warned them against heavy smoking.” There was a particularly positive response to encouraging messages and short texts that tracked and commented on smoking.
On the other hand, the test subjects complained that some messages did not appear soon enough during smoking and that there was a lack of variety. The latter point made the text messages less effective.
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Significance of the Study
“For individuals attempting to quit smoking, experiencing a first relapse can be a critical moment, posing the risk of a complete return to smoking habits,” explains Chris Stone, senior research fellow at the University of Bristol, in a press release.3 “People like smartwatches. They appreciate receiving a message at the very moment they begin smoking. So if we can identify that moment of relapse and intervene at that exact point, we have a chance to improve the success of the quit attempt.” The researchers suggest that if such a method could be provided as a complimentary treatment option for smoking cessation, it could pave the way toward a smoke-free future.
However, it should be noted that the study is very small, with only 18 participants, and had a short duration. This could mean that the results may no longer apply to a larger number of people or a more extended period of study. The likelihood of success may also hinge significantly on the smoker’s proficiency with smartphones and apps, as well as their level of access to these tools, which may vary based on financial resources.