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Pilot study of a mobile smoking cessation intervention for low-income smokers with serious mental illness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2019

Mary F. Brunette*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth-Hitchcock, 105 Pleasant St, Concord, NH 03301, USA Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA Center for Technology and Behavioral Health, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA Health Promotion Research Center at Dartmouth (Dartmouth Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research Center), Lebanon, NH, USA
Joelle C. Ferron
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth-Hitchcock, 105 Pleasant St, Concord, NH 03301, USA Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA Health Promotion Research Center at Dartmouth (Dartmouth Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research Center), Lebanon, NH, USA
Pamela Geiger
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth-Hitchcock, 105 Pleasant St, Concord, NH 03301, USA
Susan Guarino
Affiliation:
Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester, Manchester, NH, USA
Sarah I. Pratt
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth-Hitchcock, 105 Pleasant St, Concord, NH 03301, USA Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA Health Promotion Research Center at Dartmouth (Dartmouth Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research Center), Lebanon, NH, USA
Sarah E. Lord
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth-Hitchcock, 105 Pleasant St, Concord, NH 03301, USA Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA Center for Technology and Behavioral Health, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
Kelly A. Aschbrenner
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth-Hitchcock, 105 Pleasant St, Concord, NH 03301, USA Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA Health Promotion Research Center at Dartmouth (Dartmouth Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research Center), Lebanon, NH, USA
Anna Adachi-Mejia
Affiliation:
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA Health Promotion Research Center at Dartmouth (Dartmouth Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research Center), Lebanon, NH, USA
*
Author for correspondence: Mary F. Brunette, E-mail: Mary.f.brunette@hitchcock.org
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Abstract

Introduction

People with serious mental illness (SMI) have high rates of smoking and need better access to cessation treatment. Mobile behavioral interventions for cessation have been effective for the general population, but are not usable by many with SMI due to cognitive impairments or severe symptoms. We developed a tailored mobile cessation treatment intervention with features to reduce cognitive load.

Method

We enrolled 20 smokers with SMI and showed them how to use the program on a device of their choice. They were assessed at 8 weeks for intervention use, usability, satisfaction, smoking characteristics, and biologically verified abstinence.

Results

Participants accessed an average of 23.6 intervention sessions (SD = 17.05; range 1–48; median = 17.5) for an average total of 231.64 minutes (SD = 227.13; range 4.89–955.21; median = 158.18). For 87% of the sessions, average satisfaction scores were 3 or greater on a scale of 1–4. Regarding smoking, 25% of participants had reduced their smoking and 10% had biologically verified abstinence from smoking at 8 weeks.

Conclusion

Home and community use of this mobile cessation intervention was feasible among smokers with SMI. Further research is needed to evaluate such scalable approaches to increase access to behavioral treatment for this group.

Information

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2019 Published by Cambridge University Press 
Figure 0

Table 1. Let's Talk About Smoking module names and content summary

Figure 1

Fig. 1. Screenshot of page from Module 4, Session 5: Practice Breathing for Urges.

Figure 2

Table 2. Baseline characteristics of study participants

Figure 3

Table 3. Highest and lowest scoring sessions in Let's Talk About Quitting Smoking (range 1–4)

Figure 4

Table 4. Participant feedback regarding intervention