Presenting and evaluating a smartwatch-based intervention for smoking relapse (StopWatch): Feasibility and acceptability study

Stone, Chris, Essery, Rosie, Matthews, Joe, Naughton, Felix, Munafo, Marcus, Attwood, Angela and Skinner, Andy (2024) Presenting and evaluating a smartwatch-based intervention for smoking relapse (StopWatch): Feasibility and acceptability study. JMIR Formative Research, 8. ISSN 2561-326X

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Abstract

Background: Despite the benefits of smoking cessation, maintaining abstinence during a quit attempt is difficult, and most attempts result in relapse. Innovative, evidence-based methods of preventing relapse are needed. We present a smartwatch-based relapse prevention system that uses passive detection of smoking to trigger just-in-time smoking cessation support. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of hosting just-in-time smoking cessation support on a smartwatch and the acceptability of the "StopWatch" intervention on this platform. Methods: The person-based approach for intervention development was used to design the StopWatch smoking relapse prevention intervention. Intervention delivery was triggered by an algorithm identifying hand movements characteristic of smoking from the smartwatch's motion sensors, and the system-generated intervention messages (co-designed by smokers) were delivered on the smartwatch screen. A total of 18 smokers tested the intervention over a 2-week period, and at the end of this period, they provided qualitative feedback on the acceptability of both the intervention and the smartwatch platform. Results: Participants reported that the smartwatch intervention increased their awareness of smoking and motivated them to quit. System-generated intervention messages were generally felt to be relevant and timely. There were some challenges with battery life that had implications for intervention adherence, and the bulkiness of the device and the notification style reduced some participants' acceptability of the smartwatch platform. Conclusions: Our findings indicate our smoking relapse prevention intervention and the use of a smartwatch as a platform to host a just-in-time behavior change intervention are both feasible and acceptable to most (12/18, 66%) participants as a relapse prevention intervention, but we identify some concerns around the physical limitations of the smartwatch device. In particular, the bulkiness of the device and the battery capacity present risks to adherence to the intervention and the potential for missed detections. We recommend that a longer-term efficacy trial be carried out as the next step.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Funding information: This work was supported by the Integrative Cancer Epidemiology Programme, funded by Cancer Research UK (grant C18281/A29019) and part of the Medical Research Council (MRC) Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol. The MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit is supported by the MRC and the University of Bristol (grants MC_UU_00032/05 and MC_UU_00032/07).
Faculty \ School:
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Health Sciences
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Norwich Institute for Healthy Aging
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Lifespan Health
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Behavioural and Implementation Science
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Promotion
Related URLs:
Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 22 Nov 2024 09:30
Last Modified: 11 Dec 2024 01:42
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/97750
DOI: 10.2196/56999

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