Using augmented reality to deliver cue exposure treatment for smoking cessation: App usability findings and protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
Ranjita Poudel, Skye O Dougan, Helen Yates...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39880329/Actively Recruiting
Led by H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute · Updated on 2026-02-09
3600
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
N/A
Total Duration
Researchers are evaluating a smartphone application designed to reduce cravings to smoke as an additional tool alongside Tobacco Quitline treatment. The study aims to improve smoking abstinence by updating the app to be more engaging and user-friendly, and then testing its efficacy compared to quitline treatment alone. This is a Phase 2 randomized controlled trial sponsored by H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. Participants will be assigned to one of several groups. One group will receive usual care through the quitline, which includes cognitive behavioral therapy, support calls, and nicotine replacement therapy. Another group will use an updated smartphone app that tracks smoking urges and abstinence, with daily smoking extinction sessions involving multiple cues. Those in the app group who maintain 48 hours of abstinence will undergo additional extinction trials through the app. The app usage period lasts about five weeks. During the study, participants will complete assessments such as the System Usability Scale and user satisfaction surveys after one week, and tobacco abstinence status will be measured at six months. The study involves regular self-reporting of smoking urges and abstinence, with reminders to complete extinction sessions. Participants must own a smartphone that supports augmented reality and be willing to use the app. The total study participation includes follow-up visits and monitoring of smoking behavior and app usability.
CONDITIONS
App for Reducing Cravings to Smoke
C
Christine Vinci, PhD
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H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute
Lead Sponsor
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Collaborating Sponsor
This table compares participation in this trial with other options available for this condition. The information is drawn from published research and the trial’s study details and is provided for educational purposes only.
| Factors | App only | Quitline only | Quitline + app |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Daily use of a smartphone app delivering smoking‑extinction cue exposure for approximately 5 weeks | Behavioral counseling via telephone quitline featuring cognitive behavioral therapy and self‑efficacy coaching plus nicotine replacement therapy | Combination of quitline counseling plus a smartphone app that tracks urges and delivers extinction trials after 48 h of self‑reported abstinence |
| Role in trial | Investigational behavioral intervention to reduce cravings | Standard behavioral counseling comparator | Combination behavioral intervention testing additive effect of app |
| Primary use | To evaluate whether extinction‑based app use alone can reduce cravings and support quitting | To serve as behavioral counseling standard to quit smoking | To assess whether combining app with counseling improves tobacco abstinence |
| How it is given or performed | Participants use the app daily for about 5 weeks performing 2‑5 cue‑extinction sessions per day (~10 minutes total) | Quitline counselors provide multiple phone calls incorporating CBT, reinforcement, quit‑date setting, coping strategies and counseling plus NRT | Participants receive quitline counseling plus download app; after 48 h abstinence, extinction sessions are delivered via the app |
| Evidence status | Effectiveness of cue‑exposure smartphone apps alone is uncertain; evidence is equivocal for apps alone | Telephone counseling via quitlines increases smoking abstinence by approximately 40% | Combining smartphone app with traditional cessation support may further improve abstinence compared to traditional methods alone |
| Important limitations | Evidence for smartphone app alone is low certainty and mixed; adherence may affect effectiveness | Quitline benefit is modest and multiple proactive calls are needed for best effect | Combination benefits inferred from heterogeneous trials; quality varies and direct data specific to this app is lacking |
Disclaimer: This comparison is created with the help of artificial intelligence(AI) and may contain errors or missing information. It is not medical advice and does not mean one option is better or safer than another. Clinical trials are still being studied, and joining a trial is your choice. Please consult your healthcare professional before making any decisions.
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Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person or remote)
Duration - 1 week
Participants use an updated smartphone app designed to reduce cravings to smoke and provide feedback on usability and satisfaction.
1 baseline visit and 1 follow-up visit
Duration - Up to 6 months
Participants receive quitline services including cognitive behavioral therapy, support calls, and nicotine replacement therapy to aid smoking cessation. Some participants also use a smartphone app to track smoking urges and abstinence.
Multiple phone calls and app usage as part of quitline program
Duration - 5 weeks
Participants who report 48 hours of abstinence use a smartphone app to complete daily smoking extinction sessions to reduce cravings.
Daily app sessions with 2-5 extinction sessions per day
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
PREVENTION
Number of Arms
3
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Ranjita Poudel, Skye O Dougan, Helen Yates...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39880329/H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute
Lead Sponsor
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Collaborating Sponsor