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Eaton C, Vallejo N, McDonald X, Wu J, Rodríguez R, Muthusamy N, Mathioudakis N, Riekert KA. User Engagement With mHealth Interventions to Promote Treatment Adherence and Self-Management in People With Chronic Health Conditions: Systematic Review. J Med Internet Res 2024; 26:e50508. [PMID: 39316431 PMCID: PMC11462107 DOI: 10.2196/50508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are numerous mobile health (mHealth) interventions for treatment adherence and self-management; yet, little is known about user engagement or interaction with these technologies. OBJECTIVE This systematic review aimed to answer the following questions: (1) How is user engagement defined and measured in studies of mHealth interventions to promote adherence to prescribed medical or health regimens or self-management among people living with a health condition? (2) To what degree are patients engaging with these mHealth interventions? (3) What is the association between user engagement with mHealth interventions and adherence or self-management outcomes? (4) How often is user engagement a research end point? METHODS Scientific database (Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and CINAHL) search results (2016-2021) were screened for inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were extracted in a standardized electronic form. No risk-of-bias assessment was conducted because this review aimed to characterize user engagement measurement rather than certainty in primary study results. The results were synthesized descriptively and thematically. RESULTS A total of 292 studies were included for data extraction. The median number of participants per study was 77 (IQR 34-164). Most of the mHealth interventions were evaluated in nonrandomized studies (157/292, 53.8%), involved people with diabetes (51/292, 17.5%), targeted medication adherence (98/292, 33.6%), and comprised apps (220/292, 75.3%). The principal findings were as follows: (1) >60 unique terms were used to define user engagement; "use" (102/292, 34.9%) and "engagement" (94/292, 32.2%) were the most common; (2) a total of 11 distinct user engagement measurement approaches were identified; the use of objective user log-in data from an app or web portal (160/292, 54.8%) was the most common; (3) although engagement was inconsistently evaluated, most of the studies (99/195, 50.8%) reported >1 level of engagement due to the use of multiple measurement methods or analyses, decreased engagement across time (76/99, 77%), and results and conclusions suggesting that higher engagement was associated with positive adherence or self-management (60/103, 58.3%); and (4) user engagement was a research end point in only 19.2% (56/292) of the studies. CONCLUSIONS The results revealed major limitations in the literature reviewed, including significant variability in how user engagement is defined, a tendency to rely on user log-in data over other measurements, and critical gaps in how user engagement is evaluated (infrequently evaluated over time or in relation to adherence or self-management outcomes and rarely considered a research end point). Recommendations are outlined in response to our findings with the goal of improving research rigor in this area. TRIAL REGISTRATION PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42022289693; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022289693.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyd Eaton
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Natalie Vallejo
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | | | - Jasmine Wu
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Rosa Rodríguez
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Andree R, Mujcic A, den Hollander W, van Laar M, Boon B, Engels R, Blankers M. Digital Smoking Cessation Intervention for Cancer Survivors: Analysis of Predictors and Moderators of Engagement and Outcome Alongside a Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Cancer 2024; 10:e46303. [PMID: 38901028 PMCID: PMC11229662 DOI: 10.2196/46303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent studies have shown positive, though small, clinical effects of digital smoking cessation (SC) interventions for cancer survivors. However, research on associations among participant characteristics, intervention engagement, and outcomes is limited. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to explore the predictors and moderators of engagement and outcome of MyCourse-Quit Smoking (in Dutch: "MijnKoers-Stoppen met Roken"), a digital minimally guided intervention for cancer survivors. METHODS A secondary analysis of data from the randomized controlled trial was performed. The number of cigarettes smoked in the past 7 days at 6-month follow-up was the primary outcome measure. We analyzed interactions among participant characteristics (11 variables), intervention engagement (3 variables), and outcome using robust linear (mixed) modeling. RESULTS In total, 165 participants were included in this study. Female participants accessed the intervention less often than male participants (B=-11.12; P=.004). A higher Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test score at baseline was associated with a significantly higher number of logins (B=1.10; P<.001) and diary registrations (B=1.29; P<.001). A higher Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence score at baseline in the intervention group was associated with a significantly larger reduction in tobacco use after 6 months (B=-9.86; P=.002). No other associations and no moderating effects were found. CONCLUSIONS Overall, a limited number of associations was found between participant characteristics, engagement, and outcome, except for gender, problematic alcohol use, and nicotine dependence. Future studies are needed to shed light on how this knowledge can be used to improve the effects of digital SC programs for cancer survivors. TRIAL REGISTRATION Netherlands Trial register NTR6011/NL5434; https://onderzoekmetmensen.nl/nl/trial/22832.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Andree
- Trimbos Institute, Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Ajla Mujcic
- PsyQ, Parnassia Groep, The Hague, Netherlands
| | - Wouter den Hollander
- Trimbos Institute, Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Margriet van Laar
- Trimbos Institute, Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Brigitte Boon
- Siza, Center for Long-term Care for People with Disabilities, Arnhem, Netherlands
- Academy Het Dorp, Research & Advisory on Technology in Long-term Care, Arnhem, Netherlands
- Tranzo, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, Netherlands
| | - Rutger Engels
- Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Matthijs Blankers
- Trimbos Institute, Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Department of Research, Arkin Mental Health Care, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Hoffman V, Flom M, Mariano TY, Chiauzzi E, Williams A, Kirvin-Quamme A, Pajarito S, Durden E, Perski O. User Engagement Clusters of an 8-Week Digital Mental Health Intervention Guided by a Relational Agent (Woebot): Exploratory Study. J Med Internet Res 2023; 25:e47198. [PMID: 37831490 PMCID: PMC10612009 DOI: 10.2196/47198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND With the proliferation of digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) guided by relational agents, little is known about the behavioral, cognitive, and affective engagement components associated with symptom improvement over time. Obtaining a better understanding could lend clues about recommended use for particular subgroups of the population, the potency of different intervention components, and the mechanisms underlying the intervention's success. OBJECTIVE This exploratory study applied clustering techniques to a range of engagement indicators, which were mapped to the intervention's active components and the connect, attend, participate, and enact (CAPE) model, to examine the prevalence and characterization of each identified cluster among users of a relational agent-guided DMHI. METHODS We invited adults aged 18 years or older who were interested in using digital support to help with mood management or stress reduction through social media to participate in an 8-week DMHI guided by a natural language processing-supported relational agent, Woebot. Users completed assessments of affective and cognitive engagement, working alliance as measured by goal and task working alliance subscale scores, and enactment (ie, application of therapeutic recommendations in real-world settings). The app passively collected data on behavioral engagement (ie, utilization). We applied agglomerative hierarchical clustering analysis to the engagement indicators to identify the number of clusters that provided the best fit to the data collected, characterized the clusters, and then examined associations with baseline demographic and clinical characteristics as well as mental health outcomes at week 8. RESULTS Exploratory analyses (n=202) supported 3 clusters: (1) "typical utilizers" (n=81, 40%), who had intermediate levels of behavioral engagement; (2) "early utilizers" (n=58, 29%), who had the nominally highest levels of behavioral engagement in week 1; and (3) "efficient engagers" (n=63, 31%), who had significantly higher levels of affective and cognitive engagement but the lowest level of behavioral engagement. With respect to mental health baseline and outcome measures, efficient engagers had significantly higher levels of baseline resilience (P<.001) and greater declines in depressive symptoms (P=.01) and stress (P=.01) from baseline to week 8 compared to typical utilizers. Significant differences across clusters were found by age, gender identity, race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, education, and insurance coverage. The main analytic findings remained robust in sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS There were 3 distinct engagement clusters found, each with distinct baseline demographic and clinical traits and mental health outcomes. Additional research is needed to inform fine-grained recommendations regarding optimal engagement and to determine the best sequence of particular intervention components with known potency. The findings represent an important first step in disentangling the complex interplay between different affective, cognitive, and behavioral engagement indicators and outcomes associated with use of a DMHI incorporating a natural language processing-supported relational agent. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05672745; https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05672745.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Megan Flom
- Woebot Health, Inc., San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Timothy Y Mariano
- Woebot Health, Inc., San Francisco, CA, United States
- Rehabilitation Research & Development Service Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, Department of Veterans Affairs Providence Healthcare System, Providence, RI, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Emil Chiauzzi
- Woebot Health, Inc., San Francisco, CA, United States
| | | | | | | | - Emily Durden
- Woebot Health, Inc., San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Olga Perski
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, CA, United States
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
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Bricker JB, Mull KE, Santiago-Torres M, Miao Z, Perski O, Di C. Smoking Cessation Smartphone App Use Over Time: Predicting 12-Month Cessation Outcomes in a 2-Arm Randomized Trial. J Med Internet Res 2022; 24:e39208. [PMID: 35831180 PMCID: PMC9437788 DOI: 10.2196/39208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about how individuals engage over time with smartphone app interventions and whether this engagement predicts health outcomes. OBJECTIVE In the context of a randomized trial comparing 2 smartphone apps for smoking cessation, this study aimed to determine distinct groups of smartphone app log-in trajectories over a 6-month period, their association with smoking cessation outcomes at 12 months, and baseline user characteristics that predict data-driven trajectory group membership. METHODS Functional clustering of 182 consecutive days of smoothed log-in data from both arms of a large (N=2415) randomized trial of 2 smartphone apps for smoking cessation (iCanQuit and QuitGuide) was used to identify distinct trajectory groups. Logistic regression was used to determine the association of group membership with the primary outcome of 30-day point prevalence of smoking abstinence at 12 months. Finally, the baseline characteristics associated with group membership were examined using logistic and multinomial logistic regression. The analyses were conducted separately for each app. RESULTS For iCanQuit, participants were clustered into 3 groups: "1-week users" (610/1069, 57.06%), "4-week users" (303/1069, 28.34%), and "26-week users" (156/1069, 14.59%). For smoking cessation rates at the 12-month follow-up, compared with 1-week users, 4-week users had 50% higher odds of cessation (30% vs 23%; odds ratio [OR] 1.50, 95% CI 1.05-2.14; P=.03), whereas 26-week users had 397% higher odds (56% vs 23%; OR 4.97, 95% CI 3.31-7.52; P<.001). For QuitGuide, participants were clustered into 2 groups: "1-week users" (695/1064, 65.32%) and "3-week users" (369/1064, 34.68%). The difference in the odds of being abstinent at 12 months for 3-week users versus 1-week users was minimal (23% vs 21%; OR 1.16, 95% CI 0.84-1.62; P=.37). Different baseline characteristics predicted the trajectory group membership for each app. CONCLUSIONS Patterns of 1-, 3-, and 4-week smartphone app use for smoking cessation may be common in how people engage in digital health interventions. There were significantly higher odds of quitting smoking among 4-week users and especially among 26-week users of the iCanQuit app. To improve study outcomes, strategies for detecting users who disengage early from these interventions (1-week users) and proactively offering them a more intensive intervention could be fruitful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan B Bricker
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Kristin E Mull
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | | | - Zhen Miao
- Department of Statistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Olga Perski
- Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Chongzhi Di
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, United States
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Åsberg K, Blomqvist J, Lundgren O, Henriksson H, Henriksson P, Bendtsen P, Löf M, Bendtsen M. Digital multiple health behaviour change intervention targeting online help seekers: protocol for the COACH randomised factorial trial. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e061024. [PMID: 35882466 PMCID: PMC9330315 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-061024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Unhealthy lifestyle behaviours continue to be highly prevalent, including alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets, insufficient physical activity and smoking. There is a lack of effective interventions which have a large enough reach into the community to improve public health. Additionally, the common co-occurrence of multiple unhealthy behaviours demands investigation of efforts which address more than single behaviours. METHODS AND ANALYSIS The effects of six components of a novel digital multiple health behaviour change intervention on alcohol consumption, diet, physical activity and smoking (coprimary outcomes) will be estimated in a factorial randomised trial. The components are designed to facilitate behaviour change, for example, through goal setting or increasing motivation, and are either present or absent depending on allocation (ie, six factors with two levels each). The study population will be those seeking help online, recruited through search engines, social media and lifestyle-related websites. Included will be those who are at least 18 years of age and have at least one unhealthy behaviour. An adaptive design will be used to periodically make decisions to continue or stop recruitment, with simulations suggesting a final sample size between 1500 and 2500 participants. Multilevel regression models will be used to analyse behavioural outcomes collected at 2 months and 4 months postrandomisation. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Approved by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority on 2021-08-11 (Dnr 2021-02855). Since participation is likely motivated by gaining access to novel support, the main concern is demotivation and opportunity cost if the intervention is found to only exert small effects. Recruitment began on 19 October 2021, with an anticipated recruitment period of 12 months. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ISRCTN16420548.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarina Åsberg
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Jenny Blomqvist
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Oskar Lundgren
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Hanna Henriksson
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Pontus Henriksson
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Preben Bendtsen
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Medical Specialist, Motala Hospital, Motala, Sweden
| | - Marie Löf
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marcus Bendtsen
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Mindfulness-based smoking cessation interventions may aid smoking cessation by teaching individuals to pay attention to, and work mindfully with, negative affective states, cravings, and other symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. Types of mindfulness-based interventions include mindfulness training, which involves training in meditation; acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT); distress tolerance training; and yoga. OBJECTIVES To assess the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions for smoking cessation among people who smoke, and whether these interventions have an effect on mental health outcomes. SEARCH METHODS We searched the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group's specialised register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and trial registries to 15 April 2021. We also employed an automated search strategy, developed as part of the Human Behaviour Change Project, using Microsoft Academic. SELECTION CRITERIA We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and cluster-RCTs that compared a mindfulness-based intervention for smoking cessation with another smoking cessation programme or no treatment, and assessed smoking cessation at six months or longer. We excluded studies that solely recruited pregnant women. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We followed standard Cochrane methods. We measured smoking cessation at the longest time point, using the most rigorous definition available, on an intention-to-treat basis. We calculated risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for smoking cessation for each study, where possible. We grouped eligible studies according to the type of intervention and type of comparator. We carried out meta-analyses where appropriate, using Mantel-Haenszel random-effects models. We summarised mental health outcomes narratively. MAIN RESULTS We included 21 studies, with 8186 participants. Most recruited adults from the community, and the majority (15 studies) were conducted in the USA. We judged four of the studies to be at low risk of bias, nine at unclear risk, and eight at high risk. Mindfulness-based interventions varied considerably in design and content, as did comparators, therefore, we pooled small groups of relatively comparable studies. We did not detect a clear benefit or harm of mindfulness training interventions on quit rates compared with intensity-matched smoking cessation treatment (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.67 to 1.46; I2 = 0%; 3 studies, 542 participants; low-certainty evidence), less intensive smoking cessation treatment (RR 1.19, 95% CI 0.65 to 2.19; I2 = 60%; 5 studies, 813 participants; very low-certainty evidence), or no treatment (RR 0.81, 95% CI 0.43 to 1.53; 1 study, 325 participants; low-certainty evidence). In each comparison, the 95% CI encompassed benefit (i.e. higher quit rates), harm (i.e. lower quit rates) and no difference. In one study of mindfulness-based relapse prevention, we did not detect a clear benefit or harm of the intervention over no treatment (RR 1.43, 95% CI 0.56 to 3.67; 86 participants; very low-certainty evidence). We did not detect a clear benefit or harm of ACT on quit rates compared with less intensive behavioural treatments, including nicotine replacement therapy alone (RR 1.27, 95% CI 0.53 to 3.02; 1 study, 102 participants; low-certainty evidence), brief advice (RR 1.27, 95% CI 0.59 to 2.75; 1 study, 144 participants; very low-certainty evidence), or less intensive ACT (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.50 to 2.01; 1 study, 100 participants; low-certainty evidence). There was a high level of heterogeneity (I2 = 82%) across studies comparing ACT with intensity-matched smoking cessation treatments, meaning it was not appropriate to report a pooled result. We did not detect a clear benefit or harm of distress tolerance training on quit rates compared with intensity-matched smoking cessation treatment (RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.26 to 2.98; 1 study, 69 participants; low-certainty evidence) or less intensive smoking cessation treatment (RR 1.63, 95% CI 0.33 to 8.08; 1 study, 49 participants; low-certainty evidence). We did not detect a clear benefit or harm of yoga on quit rates compared with intensity-matched smoking cessation treatment (RR 1.44, 95% CI 0.40 to 5.16; 1 study, 55 participants; very low-certainty evidence). Excluding studies at high risk of bias did not substantially alter the results, nor did using complete case data as opposed to using data from all participants randomised. Nine studies reported on changes in mental health and well-being, including depression, anxiety, perceived stress, and negative and positive affect. Variation in measures and methodological differences between studies meant we could not meta-analyse these data. One study found a greater reduction in perceived stress in participants who received a face-to-face mindfulness training programme versus an intensity-matched programme. However, the remaining eight studies found no clinically meaningful differences in mental health and well-being between participants who received mindfulness-based treatments and participants who received another treatment or no treatment (very low-certainty evidence). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS We did not detect a clear benefit of mindfulness-based smoking cessation interventions for increasing smoking quit rates or changing mental health and well-being. This was the case when compared with intensity-matched smoking cessation treatment, less intensive smoking cessation treatment, or no treatment. However, the evidence was of low and very low certainty due to risk of bias, inconsistency, and imprecision, meaning future evidence may very likely change our interpretation of the results. Further RCTs of mindfulness-based interventions for smoking cessation compared with active comparators are needed. There is also a need for more consistent reporting of mental health and well-being outcomes in studies of mindfulness-based interventions for smoking cessation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Jackson
- Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jamie Brown
- Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Emma Norris
- Health Behaviour Change Research Group, Brunel University London, London, UK
| | | | - Emily Hayes
- Centre for Behaviour Change, University College London, London, UK
| | - Nicola Lindson
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Wen S, Wiers RW, Boffo M, Grasman RP, Pronk T, Larsen H. Subtypes of smokers in a randomized controlled trial of a web-based smoking cessation program and their role in predicting intervention non-usage attrition: Implications for the development of tailored interventions. Internet Interv 2021; 26:100473. [PMID: 34765460 PMCID: PMC8569479 DOI: 10.1016/j.invent.2021.100473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Web-based smoking interventions hold potential for smoking cessation; however, many of them report low intervention usage (i.e., high levels of non-usage attrition). One strategy to counter this issue is to tailor such interventions to user subtypes if these can be identified and related to non-usage attrition outcomes. The aim of this study was two-fold: (1) to identify and describe a smoker typology in participants of a web-based smoking cessation program and (2) to explore subtypes of smokers who are at a higher risk for non-usage attrition (i.e., early dropout times). METHODS We conducted secondary analyses of data from a large randomized controlled trial (RCT) that investigated effects of a web-based Cognitive Bias Modification intervention in adult smokers. First, we conducted a two-step cluster analysis to identify subtypes of smokers based on participants' baseline characteristics (including demographics, psychological and smoking-related variables, N = 749). Next, we conducted a discrete-time survival analysis to investigate the predictive value of the subtypes on time until dropout. RESULTS We found three distinct clusters of smokers: Cluster 1 (25.2%, n = 189) was characterized by participants being relatively young, highly educated, unmarried, light-to-moderate smokers, poly-substance users, and relatively high scores on sensation seeking and impulsivity; Cluster 2 (41.0%, n = 307) was characterized by participants being older, with a relatively high socio-economic status (SES), moderate-to-heavy smokers and regular drinkers; Cluster 3 (33.8%, n = 253) contained mostly females of older age, and participants were further characterized by a relatively low SES, heavy smoking, and relatively high scores on hopelessness, anxiety sensitivity, impulsivity, depression, and alcohol use. Additionally, Cluster 1 was more likely to drop out at the early stage of the intervention compared to Cluster 2 (adjusted Hazard Ratio (HR adjusted) = 1.51, 95% CI = [1.25, 1.83]) and Cluster 3 (HR adjusted = 1.52, 95% CI = [1.25, 1.86]). CONCLUSIONS We identified three clusters of smokers that differed on a broad range of characteristics and on intervention non-usage attrition patterns. This highlights the heterogeneity of participants in a web-based smoking cessation program. Also, it supports the idea that such interventions could be tailored to these subtypes to prevent non-usage attrition. The subtypes of smokers identified in this study need to be replicated in the field of e-health outside the context of RCT; based on the smoker subtypes identified in this study, we provided suggestions for developing tailored web-based smoking cessation intervention programs in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Wen
- Addiction Development and Psychopathology (ADAPT)-lab, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands,Corresponding author at: Addiction Development and Psychopathology (ADAPT)-Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Postbus 15916, 1001 NK Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Reinout W. Wiers
- Addiction Development and Psychopathology (ADAPT)-lab, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands,Center for Urban Mental Health, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marilisa Boffo
- Addiction Development and Psychopathology (ADAPT)-lab, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands,Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Raoul P.P.P. Grasman
- Programme group Psychological Methods, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Thomas Pronk
- Addiction Development and Psychopathology (ADAPT)-lab, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands,Open Science Tools (PsychoPy)-Lab, School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Helle Larsen
- Addiction Development and Psychopathology (ADAPT)-lab, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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