Caroline Free Clinical Lecturer, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, University of London
Abstract
Background
We assessed the effectiveness of an automated mobile phone text messaging smoking cessation programme (txt2stop) on continuous abstinence which was bio-chemically verified at 6 months.
Methods
5,800 smokers who were willing to make a quit attempt were randomly allocated to a mobile phone text messaging smoking cessation programme (txt2stop), comprising motivational messages and behavioural change support, or to a control group that received text messages unrelated to quitting. The primary outcome was self-reported continuous abstinence bio-chemically verified at six months. All analyses were by intention to treat. This study was registered (ISRCTN80978588).
Findings
2,915 smokers were allocated to the intervention and 2,885 were allocated to the control group. Primary outcome data were available for 5,337 (92%) participants. Bio-chemically verified continuous abstinence at six months was significantly increased in the txt2stop group, (10.7% txt2stop versus 4.9% control, relative risk 2.20, 95% CI 1.80 to 2.68 p<0.0001). Similar results were obtained when participants that were lost to follow up were treated as smokers, (9.2% txt2stop versus 4.3% control, relative risk 2.14, 95% CI 1.74 to 2.63, p<0.0001).
Interpretation
The txt2stop mobile phone text messaging smoking cessation programme substantially increased quit rates at six months and should be considered for inclusion in smoking cessation services.
