Can Mobile Messaging Help Smokers Quit?
The answer is yes, at least according to a recent meta-study that reviewed five projects including some 9000 smokers. More specifically,
“… smokers who used mobile messaging interventions were twice as likely to make it six months without smoking than those who didn’t.”
Messages included scheduled motivational statements, hints for managing temptations and rapid response to texts about cravings. Motivation, skill and help from someone else when you are about to fail is powerful cognitive design for making any type of behavior change. Unlike many other health apps this solution reaches out and engages the smoker acting as a nudge, reminder and coach.