User evaluation and feasibility test of an app designed for smoking cessation in Italian people who smoke: preliminary findings from an uncontrolled pre-test post-test open study

BACKGROUND

mHealth is a public health practice that exploits the use of mobile devices, including smartphone applications. We will describe an uncontrolled pre-test post-test open pilot study concerning the feasibility evaluation of a smartphone App designed to help in smoking cessation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of a smartphone app as a tool for smoking cessation. This study is necessary to the literature because smoking is a major public health concern and has been linked to various health issues such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and cancer. While there are several smoking cessation interventions available, the use of mobile devices to aid in smoking cessation is a relatively new and innovative approach that requires further investigation.

METHODS

The App "Smoke Free" was configured on the devices of N = 30 participants who smoked combustible cigarette, 13 males and 17 females aged 18 to 55 years, with the indications to use it for 90 days, describe their experience, suggest new features, and report any critical aspect. The study consisted of an initial screening visit to select participants that reflected the inclusion criteria and 4 study visits: a baseline visit, two follow-up visits, and one final visit. We used descriptive stats to summarize results. Repeated measures ANOVA and Wilcoxon test were used to test differences in smoking consumption, self-reported craving, and measured eCO level. Statistical software Jamovi was used for analysis. Interviews were conducted via phone or in-person and analyzed using qualitative description principles.

RESULTS

Participants evaluated the app as having good aesthetic appeal and user-friendliness but being moderately useful, despite some quitting or reducing their smoking behavior. To improve it, participants have proposed features such as more notifications, social network integration, and damage caused by smoking to the body over time for future app updates.

CONCLUSIONS

The application was moderately useful with good feasibility, with several suggestions for future updates that could improve its effectiveness.

Noncompliance to smoke-free law: which hospitality premises are more prone?

OBJECTIVES

In Turkey, smoking has been banned in hospitality establishments since July 2009. The objective of this study was to determine noncompliance to the smoke-free law and its change in 2 consecutive years in enclosed spaces of hospitality venues and also to evaluate the factors associated with noncompliance.

STUDY DESIGN

This is an observational study.

METHODS

Hospitality venues in Istanbul were visited, and data were collected through direct observation and interviews. Observation of smoking, cigarette butts or existence of ashtrays were defined as noncompliance. The survey was repeated in 2 consecutive years; the venues were visited both in 2013 and 2014. Logistic regression was used to evaluate factors associated with noncompliance.

RESULTS

In 2013, 450 establishments were visited, and in the next year, 367 (81.6%) were revisited. Noncompliance for 2013 and 2014 were 49.0% and 29.7%, respectively. The highest violation was observed in bars and traditional coffeehouses. There was a significant decrease in noncompliance from 2013 to 2014 among restaurants and cafés, while such a change was not observed among bars and traditional coffeehouses. In the multivariate analysis, venues other than restaurants, venues that did not have no-smoking signs and venues which had been issued fines previously had increased probability of noncompliance.

CONCLUSIONS

While compliance to smoke-free law had increased significantly within 1 year, almost one third of the venues were still violating the law in 2014. The venues which were issued fines continued to violate the law. There is a need to strengthen enforcement efforts and revise the methods of enforcement and penalties in hospitality establishments.

A baseline assessment of attitudes toward tobacco free campus policies in a U.S./México border university

In recent years there has been an increase in the number of smoke/tobacco free settings, including university campuses. Given the benefits associated with the implementation of smoke and tobacco free campus policies, it is important to study attitudes toward these due to their potential association with subsequent implementation issues. The present study assessed potential predictors of attitudes toward tobacco free campus (TFC) policies, tobacco use risk perception, and perceived problematic campus tobacco use at a university located on the U.S./México border. University faculty, staff, and students (N=3002; Mage=30.4; 60% female; 67.1% Hispanic) completed an online survey regarding tobacco use history, attitudes toward TFC policies, tobacco use risk perception, perception of problematic tobacco use on campus, and awareness of the current tobacco use campus policy. Male gender, non Hispanic white ethnicity, smoking behavior (history/current), and identifying the current tobacco use policy were associated with less positive attitudes toward TFC policies and lower tobacco use risk perception. Non Hispanic white ethnicity and current smoking were associated with a lower perception of problematic campus tobacco use. Attitudes toward TFC policies and perceptions were generally positive, yet educating about the risks associated with tobacco use and addressing misconceptions about the dangers of secondhand smoke to potentially promote TFC policies seem warranted.