Smoking cessation supported by a smartphone app: A qualitative process evaluation of the Quit Sense feasibility RCT

Hope, Aimie, Naughton, Felix and Notley, Caitlin (2025) Smoking cessation supported by a smartphone app: A qualitative process evaluation of the Quit Sense feasibility RCT. British Journal of Health Psychology, 30 (3). ISSN 1359-107X

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Abstract

Objectives: Quit Sense is a Just-in-Time Adaptive Intervention (JITAI) smartphone app that provides real-time automated and in-situ support to help people attempting to quit smoking manage cue-induced cravings. This process evaluation study explored views and experiences of feasibility trial participants and assessed: (1) intervention experiences, (2) how these might help explain causal path-ways towards behaviour change and (3) experiences of study participation. Design: Qualitative interviews nested within a two-arm feasibility randomized control trial. Methods: We purposefully sampled 20 participants (15intervention, 5 usual care) for semi-structured telephone interviews. Data were thematically analysed and was supplemented with a descriptive analysis of relevant experiences to hypothesize causal pathways to behaviour change. Results: Motivations for engaging in the trial and intervention included wanting greater accountability and to be part of something. Reasons for disengaging included success-fully quitting (app no longer needed), lapsing/relapsing and preferring other support types. Mechanisms which reportedly enabled successful quit attempts included the app's pre-quit preparation phase through insights into smoking cues, the delivery of lapse avoidance strategies and the supportive messages which helped to reinforce the goal of quitting. The trial was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic and provided examples of situations and contexts in which Quit Sense was used and felt to be (un)helpful for cessation. Conclusions: The Quit Sense app and trial were well received by participants. Participants reported that the preparation phase used for app training prior to their quit date was of particular value and not currently offered by other apps tried.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT: The data underlying this article will be shared upon reasonable request to the corresponding author. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: This study is funded by the NIHR Public Health Research Programme (17/92/31). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups:	University of East Anglia Schools > Faculty of Science > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Norwich Institute for Healthy Aging Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Behavioural and Implementation Science Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Promotion Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Mental Health and Social Care (fka Lifespan Health) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Epidemiology and Public Health Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Public Health
Related URLs:	https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.c...
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	06 Aug 2025 14:30
Last Modified:	06 Aug 2025 14:30
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/100075
DOI:	10.1111/bjhp.70010

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