NAQC Newsroom: Research

COach2Quit: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a Personal Carbon Monoxide Monitor for Smoking Ce

Wednesday, November 20, 2019  
Posted by: Natalia Gromov
Nandita Krishnan, MSPH, Jessica L Elf, PhD, Sandy Chon, MHS, Jonathan E Golub, PhD.
COach2Quit: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a Personal Carbon Monoxide Monitor for Smoking Cessation.
Nicotine & Tobacco Research, Volume 21, Issue 11, November 2019, Pages 1573–1577, https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/nty182.

Introduction. Mobile phone–based messaging support and biomarker feedback independently show evidence of increasing an individual’s likelihood of quitting smoking. However, the combination of these two strategies to facilitate smoking cessation has not been adequately explored.
Methods. We conducted a randomized controlled trial in Baltimore, Maryland, to assess the efficacy of COach2Quit, a smartphone application that provides exhaled carbon monoxide readings with message support. The primary outcome was self-reported and biochemically verified smoking cessation at 30-day follow-up. Secondary outcomes were reduction in smoking, motivation to quit, and engagement and satisfaction with COach2Quit. An intention-to-treat analysis was conducted.
Results. Adult smokers were randomized 1:1 to receive brief advice and COach2Quit (intervention, n = 50) or brief advice only (control, n = 52). Thirteen participants were lost to follow-up. At 30-day follow-up, one participant in each arm quit smoking. Median change in carbon monoxide levels (in parts per million (ppm)) (intervention: −3.0 [interquartile range (IQR) −12.0, 2.0]; control: −2.5 [IQR −9.0, 2.0]) and median change in number of cigarettes smoked per day (intervention: −5.5 [IQR −14.0, −1.0]; control: −6.0 [IQR −10.0, −2.0]) was similar between study arms. There was no significant difference in mean percent change in the Reasons for Quitting scale score (intervention: 6.3 [95% confidence interval = −2.2% to 14.8%]; control: −3.6 [95% confidence interval = −9.2% to 2.1%]). A majority (n = 32, 91%) of participants liked having COach2Quit to help them quit smoking.
Conclusions. There were no significant differences in smoking cessation, smoking reduction, and motivation to quit between study arms. However, high satisfaction with the COach2Quit application indicates its feasibility and acceptability as a smoking cessation tool.