Comparative analysis of smoking cessation smartphone applications available in 2012 versus 2014.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Smartphone applications (apps) offer a potentially cost-effective and a wide-reach aid to smoking cessation. In 2012, a content analysis of smoking cessation apps suggested that most apps did not adopt behaviour change techniques (BCTs), which according to previous research had suggested would promote higher success rates in quitting smoking. This study examined whether or not, this situation had changed by 2014 for free smoking cessation apps available in the Apple App Store. It also compared the use of engagement and ease-of-use features between the two time points.

Methods

137 free apps available in the Apple App Sore in 2014 were coded using an established framework for the presence or absence of evidence-based BCTs, and engagement and ease-of-use fea

SUBMITTER: Ubhi HK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4821061 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature