NCT05227027

Pilot Trial of a Game Embedded in a Smartphone App for Smoking Cessation

Influence of a Game Embedded in a Smartphone App for Smoking Cessation on User Engagement: A Randomized Pilot Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 500 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of California, San Francisco · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study evaluates the effects of a video game embedded in a commercially available mobile application (app) for smoking cessation. Smokers are increasingly turning to mobile health apps for assistance with quitting smoking, and there is a critical need for strategies to engage app users to increase retention and efficacy. Video games are designed to increase users' motivation and engagement, which in turn may increase their exposure and adherence to a smoking cessation program. The hypothesis is that the game increases engagement, retention, and smoking abstinence rates compared with a core version of the app without the game. A two-arm individually randomized pilot trial of 500 adult smokers will test this hypothesis, comparing outcomes for participants randomized to receive the core app plus embedded game with participants randomized to receive the core app only. Primary outcomes relate to user engagement with the app. Secondary outcomes relate to user engagement, efficacy (smoking abstinence), and user satisfaction.

Detailed description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. Augment an existing smartphone cessation app for smoking cessation with a video game to increase user engagement. II. Test the feasibility, engagement, and early efficacy of the 'gamified' app, compared to one without gamification. OUTLINE: Participants are recruited through the Smoke Free smartphone app and randomized to 1 of 2 arms. ARM I: Participants receive an educational intervention through the Smoke Free application (core app) with the embedded video game module. Participants complete questionnaires and may undergo saliva sample collection, if they report being smoke-free on follow-up. ARM II: Participants receive an educational intervention through the Smoke Free application without the video game module (core app only). Participants complete questionnaires and may undergo saliva sample collection, if they report being smoke-free on follow-up.

Conditions

• Cigarette Smoking-Related Carcinoma

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Game Module	Receive access to the the game module through the free, 'Smoke Free' smartphone application
BEHAVIORAL	Smoke Free smartphone application	Receive educational intervention through the free 'Smoke Free' smartphone application (core version of the app)

Timeline

• Start date: 2022-02-09
• Primary completion: 2022-05-31
• Completion: 2022-05-31
• First posted: 2022-02-07
• Last updated: 2024-01-03
• Results posted: 2024-01-03

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States