A new University of Bristol-led study developed software that uses smartwatch motion sensors to identify the typical hand movements of cigarette smoking to help detect a smoking lapse. If the app detects the person is smoking, the smartwatch delivers a relapse prevention message to help with their quit attempt.
Participants reported that the smartwatch intervention increased their awareness of smoking, which helped with some of the more automatic aspects of smoking behaviour and made them think about what they were doing, motivating them to quit.
Researchers found that a smoking relapse prevention intervention and the use of a smartwatch as a platform to host a just-in-time behaviour change intervention are both feasible and acceptable to the majority of participants (66%) as a relapse prevention intervention.
The researchers believe this is the first just-in-time intervention for preventing smoking relapse that runs entirely on a smartwatch, so doesn't need to be paired with a smartphone.
Chris Stone, senior research associate in wearable technology application development in Bristol's Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group and Integrative Cancer Epidemiology Programme (ICEP), said: ‘For those who are trying to give up, an initial lapse is a vulnerable moment, and risks leading to a full relapse to smoking. People like smartwatches. They like the idea of it delivering a message at the point that they smoke. Therefore, if we can identify this point of lapse, and deliver an intervention precisely at that point, we have an opportunity to improve the success of the quit attempt.
‘In carrying out this project, we have aimed to harness the latest thinking in intervention design, and deliver it in a convenient wearable package with minimal burden to the user and maximum engagement with behaviour change; and in doing so, make a difference to people's lives.'
The research team recommend a longer-term effectiveness trial be carried out as the next step.
This work is part of the Smoking Cessation theme of the Cancer Research UK-funded Integrative Cancer Epidemiology Programme (ICEP).
