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Lisik F, Piketty-Desfeux M, Tchikladze C, Glowaczower É. The effectiveness of an intervention to reduce exposure to trace metals during or prior to pregnancy: A prospective study in urban and rural locations. Heliyon 2023; 9:e21293. [PMID: 37954379 PMCID: PMC10637957 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Prenatal exposure to trace metals can have adverse effects on health and increase the risk of developing certain diseases. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of giving women advice to reduce their exposure to trace metals during pregnancy or prior to conception. The study also examined differences in exposure between rural and urban environments in southern France. Methods In this prospective study, pregnant women or those intending to conceive were recruited from two medical centers for gynecology/obstetrics (rural location: Saint-Rémy-de-Provence; urban location: Marseille). Hair samples were collected and analyzed to determine the levels of exposure to trace metals. Participants with 'risky' levels were given corresponding advice sheets on how to reduce their exposure or, for certain metals, they were encouraged to find out about potential sources of exposure. A second hair sample was collected and analyzed 3 months later. Results It was found that 109 women had 'risky' levels of exposure to trace metals, out of a total of 184 women (59.2 %). Cerium was the most frequently identified metal (N = 26), followed by nickel (N = 23), and titanium (N = 19). There were more women at the urban center with 'risky' levels (56/86; 65.1 %) than at the rural center (53/98; 54.1 %), but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.13). Advice sheets were given to 64 of the 109 participants with 'risky' levels (58.7 %), but only 21 returned for the second hair analysis. Of these, 14 were found to have reduced their exposure, which corresponds to just 12.8 % (14/109) of the participants with 'risky' levels. Conclusions These results indicate that it would be helpful to develop new interventions to reduce trace metal exposure during or prior to pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Lisik
- St Bernard Medical Center, 1 Avenue Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 13210, Saint Remy de Provence, France
- Urbain V Polyclinic, Elsan, Chemin Du Pont des Deux Eaux, 84036, Avignon, France
| | - Mathilde Piketty-Desfeux
- St Bernard Medical Center, 1 Avenue Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 13210, Saint Remy de Provence, France
| | | | - Éric Glowaczower
- Carré Saint-Giniez Medical Practice, 345 Avenue Du Prado, 13008, Marseille, France
- Bouchard Clinic, Elsan, 77 Rue Du Docteur Escat, 13006, Marseille, France
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White JS, Salem MK, Toussaert S, Westmaas JL, Raiff BR, Crane D, Warrender E, Lyles C, Abroms L, Thrul J. Developing a Game (Inner Dragon) Within a Leading Smartphone App for Smoking Cessation: Design and Feasibility Evaluation Study. JMIR Serious Games 2023; 11:e46602. [PMID: 37566442 PMCID: PMC10457699 DOI: 10.2196/46602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several stand-alone smartphone apps have used serious games to provide an engaging approach to quitting smoking. So far, the uptake of these games has been modest, and the evidence base for their efficacy in promoting smoking cessation is still evolving. The feasibility of integrating a game into a popular smoking cessation app is unclear. OBJECTIVE The aim of this paper was to describe the design and iterative development of the Inner Dragon game within Smoke Free, a smartphone app with proven efficacy, and the results of a single-arm feasibility trial as part of a broad program that seeks to assess the effectiveness of the gamified app for smoking cessation. METHODS In phase 1, the study team undertook a multistep process to design and develop the game, including web-based focus group discussions with end users (n=15). In phase 2, a single-arm study of Smoke Free users who were trying to quit (n=30) was conducted to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the integrated game and to establish the feasibility of the planned procedures for a randomized pilot trial. RESULTS Phase 1 led to the final design of Inner Dragon, informed by principles from psychology and behavioral economics and incorporating several game mechanics designed to increase user engagement and retention. Inner Dragon users maintain an evolving pet dragon that serves as a virtual avatar for the users' progress in quitting. The phase-2 study established the feasibility of the study methods. The mean number of app sessions completed per user was 13.8 (SD 13.1; median 8; range 1-46), with a mean duration per session of 5.8 (median 1.1; range 0-81.1) minutes. Overall, three-fourths (18/24, 75%) of the participants entered the Inner Dragon game at least once and had a mean of 2.4 (SD 2.4) sessions of game use. The use of Inner Dragon was positively associated with the total number of app sessions (correlation 0.57). The mean satisfaction score of participants who provided ratings (11/24, 46%) was 4.2 (SD 0.6) on a 5-point scale; however, satisfaction ratings for Inner Dragon were only completed by 13% (3/24) of the participants. CONCLUSIONS Findings supported further development and evaluation of Inner Dragon as a beneficial feature of Smoke Free. The next step of this study is to conduct a randomized pilot trial to determine whether the gamified version of the app increases user engagement over a standard version of the app.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin S White
- Philip R Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Health Law, Policy & Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Marie K Salem
- Philip R Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | | | - J Lee Westmaas
- Population Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Bethany R Raiff
- Department of Psychology, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, United States
| | | | | | - Courtney Lyles
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Lorien Abroms
- Department of Prevention and Community Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Johannes Thrul
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
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Tahan C, Dobbins T, Hyslop F, Lingam R, Richmond R. Effect of digital health, biomarker feedback and nurse or midwife-led counselling interventions to assist pregnant smokers quit: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e060549. [PMID: 36963792 PMCID: PMC10040078 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-060549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of digital health (DH), biomarker feedback (BF) and nurse or midwife-led counselling (NoMC) interventions on abstinence in pregnant smokers during pregnancy and postpartum. SETTINGS Any healthcare setting servicing pregnant women, including any country globally. PARTICIPANTS Pregnant women of any social, ethnic or geographical background who smoke. METHODS We searched Embase, Medline, Web Of Science, Google Scholar, PsychINFO, CINAHL and PubMed between 2007 and November 2021. We included published original intervention studies in English with comparators (usual care or placebo). Two independent assessors screened and abstracted data. We performed a random-effects meta-analysis, assessed risk of bias with the Cochrane Tool and used Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation to assess the quality of evidence. RESULTS We identified 57 studies and included 54 in the meta-analysis. Sixteen studies assessed DH (n=3961), 6 BF (n=1643), 32 NoMC (n=60 251), 1 assessed NoMC with BF (n=1120) and 2 NoMC with DH interventions (n=2107). DH interventions had moderate certainty evidence to achieve continuous abstinence (CA) at late pregnancy (4 studies; 2049 women; RR=1.98, 95% CI 1.08 to 3.64, p=0.03) and low certainty evidence to achieve point prevalence abstinence (PPA) postpartum (5 studies; 2238 women; RR=1.46, 95% CI 1.05 to 2.02, p=0.02). NoMC interventions had moderate certainty evidence to achieve PPA in late pregnancy (15 studies; 16 234 women; RR=1.54, 95% CI 1.16 to 2.06, p<0.01) and low certainty evidence to achieve PPA postpartum (13 studies; 5466 women; RR=1.79, 95% CI 1.14 to 2.83, p=0.01). Both DH and BF interventions did not achieve PPA at late pregnancy, nor NoMC interventions achieve CA postpartum. The certainty was reduced due to risk of bias, heterogeneity, inconsistency and/or imprecision. CONCLUSION NoMC interventions can assist pregnant smokers achieve PPA and DH interventions achieve CA in late pregnancy. These interventions may achieve other outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chadi Tahan
- School of Population Health, University of New South Wales - Kensington Campus, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Timothy Dobbins
- School of Population Health, University of New South Wales - Kensington Campus, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Fran Hyslop
- School of Population Health, University of New South Wales - Kensington Campus, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Raghu Lingam
- Paediatric Population Health, School of Women's & Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Robyn Richmond
- School of Population Health, University of New South Wales - Kensington Campus, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Bloom EL, Japuntich SJ, Pierro A, Dallery J, Leahey TM, Rosen J. Pilot trial of QuitBet: A digital social game that pays you to stop smoking. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 2022; 30:642-652. [PMID: 34110881 PMCID: PMC10259805 DOI: 10.1037/pha0000487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Contingency management is an effective treatment for cigarette smoking cessation but feasibility and acceptability concerns have been barriers to implementation. We conducted a pilot test of QuitBet, a commercial, digital (smartphone) social game for smoking cessation during which participants earned financial incentives for abstinence. QuitBet included a social feed for posting messages and entirely participant-funded incentives in the form of a deposit contract (the "bet"). QuitBet had a bet of $30 and lasted for 28 days. After a week to prepare for quitting, the quit day was Day 8. Between Day 9-28 (a 20-day period), participants earned back $1 of their $30 bet for each day of carbon monoxide (CO)-verified abstinence (≤ 6 ppm). Remaining bet money was pooled into a "grand prize" pot. Participants who were abstinent on at least 19 of the 20 days (1 "lapse" day allowed) were declared "winners" and split the grand prize pot equally. A game host posted a daily message containing evidence-based education about smoking cessation or a discussion topic. Recruitment goals were met. Among the players (N = 50 U.S. adults, 78% female), 17 (34%) were winners. Thirty-seven participants (74%) responded to a post-QuitBet survey, of whom 95% said they would be interested in playing another QuitBet and would recommend QuitBet to others. Overall, feedback was positive with some suggestions for improvement. In conclusion, a digital social game for smoking cessation with a deposit contract was feasible and acceptable. Next steps include conducting a randomized trial to establish efficacy and a sustainable business model. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Litvin Bloom
- Behavioral and Policy Sciences, RAND Corporation, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Sandra J. Japuntich
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hennepin Healthcare, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Hennepin
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School
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DeJong KN, Choby B, Valent AM. Strategies for Prevention or Treatment of Tobacco and Cannabis Use Disorder. Clin Obstet Gynecol 2022; 65:397-419. [PMID: 35318983 DOI: 10.1097/grf.0000000000000688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Tobacco and cannabis use in pregnancy are associated with increased adverse perinatal and long-term offspring outcomes. Products for both have evolved with various forms available on the market, challenging accurate counseling of risks and quantification of tobacco and cannabis usage during the perinatal period. Health care providers are recommended to screen for any type of use, provide consistent messaging of harms of tobacco and cannabis use in pregnancy, and offer individualized interventions. The journey to cessation can be complicated by barriers and triggers, lack of social supports, and mental health challenges that should be addressed to prevent relapse and withdrawals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine N DeJong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Addiction Medicine, Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Beth Choby
- Department of Medical Education, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Amy M Valent
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
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Hoepper BB, Siegel KR, Carlon HA, Kahler CW, Park ER, Taylor ST, Simpson HV, Hoeppner SS. Feature-level analysis of a smoking cessation smartphone app that uses a positive psychology approach (Preprint). JMIR Form Res 2022; 6:e38234. [PMID: 35900835 PMCID: PMC9377446 DOI: 10.2196/38234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Smoking cessation smartphone apps have emerged as highly accessible tools to support smoking cessation efforts. It is unknown how specific app features contribute to user engagement over time and relate to smoking outcomes. Objective To provide a feature-level analysis of the Smiling Instead of Smoking app (version 2) and to link feature use to subsequent smoking cessation. Methods Nondaily smokers (N=100) used the app for a period of 49 days (1 week before quitting and 6 weeks after quitting). Participants self-reported 30-day point-prevalence abstinence at the end of this period and at a 6-month follow up (the survey response rate was 94% and 89% at these points, respectively). Self-reported 30-day point prevalence abstinence rates were 40% at the end of treatment and 56% at the 6-month follow up. The app engaged users in both positive psychology content and traditional behavioral smoking cessation content. The app sent push notifications to prompt participants to complete prescribed content (ie, a “happiness exercise” every day and a “behavioral challenge” to use the app’s smoking cessation tools on 15 out of 49 days). Actions that participants took within the app were timestamped and recorded. Results Participants used the app on 24.7 (SD 13.8) days out of the 49 prescribed days, interacting with the happiness content on more days than the smoking content (23.8, SD 13.8 days vs 17.8, SD 10.3 days; t99=9.28 [2-tailed]; P<.001). The prescribed content was frequently completed (45% of happiness exercises; 57% of behavioral challenges) and ad libitum tools were used on ≤7 days. Most participants used each ad libitum smoking cessation tool at least once, with higher use of personalized content (≥92% used “strategies,” “cigarette log,” “smoke alarms,” and “personal reasons”) than purely didactic content (79% viewed “benefits of quitting smoking”). The number of days participants used the app significantly predicted 30-day point-prevalence abstinence at the end of treatment (odds ratio [OR] 1.05, 95% CI 1.02-1.09; P=.002) and at the 6-month follow up (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.008-1.07; P=.01). The number of days participants engaged with the happiness content significantly predicted smoking abstinence at the end of treatment (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02-1.08; P=.002) and at the 6-month follow up (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.007-1.07; P=.02). This effect was not significant for the number of days participants engaged with the smoking cessation content of the app, either at the end of treatment (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.996-1.08, P=.08) or at the 6-month follow up (OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.98-1.06; P=.29). Conclusions Greater app usage predicted greater odds of self-reported 30-day point-prevalence abstinence at both the end of treatment and over the long term, suggesting that the app had a therapeutic benefit. Positive psychology content and prescriptive clarity may promote sustained app engagement over time. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03951766; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03951766
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Affiliation(s)
- Bettina B Hoepper
- Recovery Research Institute, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Kaitlyn R Siegel
- Recovery Research Institute, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Hannah A Carlon
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Christopher W Kahler
- Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Elyse R Park
- Mongan Institute, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Steven Trevor Taylor
- Recovery Research Institute, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Hazel V Simpson
- Recovery Research Institute, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Susanne S Hoeppner
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Related Disorders Program, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
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Azizoddin DR, Thomas TH. Game Changer: Is Palliative Care Ready for Games? JCO Clin Cancer Inform 2022; 6:e2200003. [PMID: 35482999 PMCID: PMC9088236 DOI: 10.1200/cci.22.00003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Desiree R. Azizoddin
- Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Teresa H. Thomas
- Health Promotion & Development, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA
- Palliative Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
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Warsinsky S, Schmidt-Kraepelin M, Rank S, Thiebes S, Sunyaev A. Conceptual Ambiguity Surrounding Gamification and Serious Games in Health Care: Literature Review and Development of Game-Based Intervention Reporting Guidelines (GAMING). J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e30390. [PMID: 34505840 PMCID: PMC8463952 DOI: 10.2196/30390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In health care, the use of game-based interventions to increase motivation, engagement, and overall sustainability of health behaviors is steadily becoming more common. The most prevalent types of game-based interventions in health care research are gamification and serious games. Various researchers have discussed substantial conceptual differences between these 2 concepts, supported by empirical studies showing differences in the effects on specific health behaviors. However, researchers also frequently report cases in which terms related to these 2 concepts are used ambiguously or even interchangeably. It remains unclear to what extent existing health care research explicitly distinguishes between gamification and serious games and whether it draws on existing conceptual considerations to do so. OBJECTIVE This study aims to address this lack of knowledge by capturing the current state of conceptualizations of gamification and serious games in health care research. Furthermore, we aim to provide tools for researchers to disambiguate the reporting of game-based interventions. METHODS We used a 2-step research approach. First, we conducted a systematic literature review of 206 studies, published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research and its sister journals, containing terms related to gamification, serious games, or both. We analyzed their conceptualizations of gamification and serious games, as well as the distinctions between the two concepts. Second, based on the literature review findings, we developed a set of guidelines for researchers reporting on game-based interventions and evaluated them with a group of 9 experts from the field. RESULTS Our results show that less than half of the concept mentions are accompanied by an explicit definition. To distinguish between the 2 concepts, we identified four common approaches: implicit distinction, synonymous use of terms, serious games as a type of gamified system, and distinction based on the full game dimension. Our Game-Based Intervention Reporting Guidelines (GAMING) consist of 25 items grouped into four topics: conceptual focus, contribution, mindfulness about related concepts, and individual concept definitions. CONCLUSIONS Conceptualizations of gamification and serious games in health care literature are strongly heterogeneous, leading to conceptual ambiguity. Following the GAMING can support authors in rigorous reporting on study results of game-based interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Warsinsky
- Department of Economics and Management, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | | | - Sascha Rank
- Department of Economics and Management, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Scott Thiebes
- Department of Economics and Management, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Ali Sunyaev
- Department of Economics and Management, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
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Upton CR, Nastasi JA, Raiff BR. Videogame Preferences among Adults Interested in Quitting Smoking Cigarettes (Preprint). JMIR Serious Games 2021; 10:e30949. [PMID: 35323116 PMCID: PMC8990339 DOI: 10.2196/30949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Caitlyn R Upton
- Department of Psychology, College of Science and Mathematics, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, United States
| | - Jessica A Nastasi
- Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts and Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Bethany R Raiff
- Department of Psychology, College of Science and Mathematics, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, United States
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Bindoff I, Ling TR, Gee P, Geelan B, Ferguson SG, Peterson GM. Effects of a Mobile App Called Quittr, Which Utilizes Premium Currency and Games Features, on Improving Engagement With Smoking Cessation Intervention: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Serious Games 2020; 8:e23734. [PMID: 33315016 PMCID: PMC7769690 DOI: 10.2196/23734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Numerous mobile health (mHealth) apps have been developed to support smokers attempting to quit smoking. Although these apps have been reported to be successful, only modest improvements in the quit rate have been measured. It has been proposed that efforts to improve user engagement and retention may improve the quit rate further. Owing to the high cost of smoking-related disease, it is considered worthwhile to pursue even small improvements. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to test a novel smartphone app that leverages premium currency strategies developed by the mobile games industry in an attempt to improve engagement and retention with a smoking cessation intervention. METHODS We designed and developed a smoking cessation app called "Quittr" in line with previously developed smoking cessation mHealth apps. In addition to this established framework, we added a stand-alone fully featured city-building clicker-style game called "Tappy Town," and a premium virtual currency called "QuitCoins." The user earns QuitCoins for using the app in a way that contributes positively toward their quit attempt, and they can redeem these coins in Tappy Town for bonuses. To establish whether these features improved engagement and retention, we ran a 5-month randomized controlled trial where the intervention group had the full app with the extra games features, while the control group had the standard app only. Recruitment was performed via web-based advertising. Participants (N=175) had no direct contact with the researchers or other support staff. RESULTS No significant differences in terms of engagement, retention, or smoking outcomes were found between the control and intervention groups. However, survey data indicated that the majority of the participants valued Tappy Town (10/17, 59%) and the QuitCoins rewards system (13/17, 77%). Usage data also suggested that Tappy Town was widely played and was generally appealing to users (mean total time spent in app, control group: 797 seconds vs intervention group: 3502 seconds, P<.001). Analysis of the results suggests that users in the intervention group may have been negatively affected by the aspects of the chosen design, and some theories were explored to explain this unexpected outcome. CONCLUSIONS Although the novel features of the Quittr app failed to improve the key outcomes measured in this study, there were enough positive indications to warrant further exploration of the concept. Additional research will be required to identify and correct any design flaws that may have adversely affected our participants before a follow-up study can be completed. TRIAL REGISTRATION Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register ACTRN12617000491369; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=372661&isReview=true.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Bindoff
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay, Australia
| | - Tristan R Ling
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay, Australia
| | - Peter Gee
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay, Australia
| | - Benjamin Geelan
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay, Australia
| | - Stuart G Ferguson
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Gregory M Peterson
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay, Australia
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11
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Kim J, Song H, Merrill K, Jung Y, Kwon RJ. Using Serious Games for Antismoking Health Campaigns: Experimental Study. JMIR Serious Games 2020; 8:e18528. [PMID: 33263549 PMCID: PMC7744263 DOI: 10.2196/18528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Serious games for health have been gaining in popularity among scholars and practitioners. However, there remain a few questions to be addressed. OBJECTIVE This study tests the effects of a serious game and fear appeals on smoking-related outcomes. More specifically, this research aims to understand how serious games function as a more effective vehicle for a health campaign than a traditional medium, such as a print-based pamphlet. Further, while serious games utilize a variety of persuasive strategies in the game's content, it is not clear whether fear appeals, which are widely used persuasive-message strategies for health, can be an effective strategy in serious games. Thus, we are testing the effect of fear appeals in a serious game. METHODS We created a computer game and a print brochure to educate participants about the risks of smoking. More specifically, a flash-based single-player game was developed in which players were asked to avoid cigarettes in the gameplay context. We also developed an online brochure based on existing smoking-related brochures at a university health center; antismoking messages on the computer game and in the brochure were comparable. Then, an experiment using a 2 (media type: game vs. print) x 2 (fearful image: fear vs. no-fear) between-subjects design was conducted. The study recruitment was announced to undergraduate students enrolled in a large, public Midwestern university in the United States. After a screening test, a total of 72 smokers, who reported smoking in the past 30 days, participated in the experiment. RESULTS Overall, gameplay, when compared to print-based pamphlets, had greater impacts on attitudes toward smoking and the intention to quit smoking. Further, the game's persuasive effects were especially pronounced when messages contained fear appeals. When fearful images were presented, participants in the game condition reported significantly more negative attitudes toward social smoking than those in the print condition [F(1,67)=7.28; P=.009; ηp2=0.10]. However, in the no-fear condition, there was no significant difference between the conditions [F(1,67)=0.25; P=.620]. Similarly, the intention to quit smoking [F(1,67)=4.64; P=.035; ηp2=0.07] and susceptibility [F(1,67)=6.92; P=.011; ηp2=0.09] were also significantly different between the conditions, but only when fear appeals were used. CONCLUSIONS This study extends fear appeal research by investigating the effects of different media types. It offers empirical evidence that a serious game can be an effective vehicle for fear appeals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihyun Kim
- University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
| | - Hayeon Song
- Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Younbo Jung
- Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
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Pallejà-Millán M, Rey-Reñones C, Barrera Uriarte ML, Granado-Font E, Basora J, Flores-Mateo G, Duch J. Evaluation of the Tobbstop Mobile App for Smoking Cessation: Cluster Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2020; 8:e15951. [PMID: 32589153 PMCID: PMC7381259 DOI: 10.2196/15951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mobile apps provide an accessible way to test new health-related methodologies. Tobacco is still the primary preventable cause of death in industrialized countries, constituting an important public health issue. New technologies provide novel opportunities that are effective in the cessation of smoking tobacco. OBJECTIVE This paper aims to evaluate the efficacy and usage of a mobile app for assisting adult smokers to quit smoking. METHODS We conducted a cluster randomized clinical trial. We included smokers older than 18 years who were motivated to stop smoking and used a mobile phone compatible with our mobile app. We carried out follow-up visits at 15, 30, and 45 days, and at 2, 3, 6, and 12 months. Participants of the intervention group had access to the Tobbstop mobile app designed by the research team. The primary outcomes were continuous smoking abstinence at 3 and 12 months. RESULTS A total of 773 participants were included in the trial, of which 602 (77.9%) began the study on their D-Day. Of participants in the intervention group, 34.15% (97/284) did not use the app. The continuous abstention level was significantly larger in the intervention group participants who used the app than in those who did not use the app at both 3 months (72/187, 38.5% vs 13/97, 13.4%; P<.001) and 12 months (39/187, 20.9% vs 8/97, 8.25%; P=.01). Participants in the intervention group who used the app regularly and correctly had a higher probability of not being smokers at 12 months (OR 7.20, 95% CI 2.14-24.20; P=.001) than the participants of the CG. CONCLUSIONS Regular use of an app for smoking cessation is effective in comparison with standard clinical practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01734421; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01734421.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meritxell Pallejà-Millán
- Unitat de Suport a la Recerca Camp de Tarragona, Fundació Institut Universitari per a la recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina, Reus, Spain.,Departament de Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain
| | - Cristina Rey-Reñones
- Departament de Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain.,Institut Català de la Salut, Unitat de Suport a la Recerca Camp de Tarragona, Reus, Spain
| | - Maria Luisa Barrera Uriarte
- Institut Català de la Salut, Unitat de Suport a la Recerca Camp de Tarragona, Reus, Spain.,Equip d'Atenció Primaria La Granja (Tarragona-2), Direcció d'Atenció Primaria Camp de Tarragona, Institut Català de la Salut, Torreforta, Spain
| | - Esther Granado-Font
- Institut Català de la Salut, Unitat de Suport a la Recerca Camp de Tarragona, Reus, Spain.,Equip d'Atenció Primaria Horts de Miró (Reus-4), Direcció d'Atenció Primaria Camp de Tarragona, Institut Català de la Salut, Reus, Spain
| | - Josep Basora
- Unitat de Suport a la Recerca Camp de Tarragona, Fundació Institut Universitari per a la recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina, Reus, Spain.,Departament de Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain
| | - Gemma Flores-Mateo
- Unitat de Suport a la Recerca Camp de Tarragona, Fundació Institut Universitari per a la recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina, Reus, Spain.,Unitat d'Anàlisi i Qualitat, Xarxa Sanitària i Social Santa Tecla, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Jordi Duch
- Departament d'Enginyeria Informàtica i Matemàtiques, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
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