Smartphone App for Teen Vaping Cessation

This trial aims to help teens quit vaping by comparing two smartphone apps. The study tests a new app called QuitQuest against the NCI's SmokefreeTeenQuitVaping (SFTQV) app to determine which is more effective in helping teens stop using e-cigarettes, which can harm lung health and brain development. Teens who have used e-cigarettes at least weekly in the past month, want to quit within the next 30 days, have their own smartphone, and will live in the US for the next year might be a good fit. Participants will use one of the apps for 12 months and provide feedback at different stages. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity for teens to contribute to research that could lead to better tools for quitting vaping.

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It focuses on quitting vaping and other nicotine products.

Research shows that the QuitQuest app aims to help teens stop vaping using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which focuses on mindfulness and behavior change. Studies on similar programs, such as those using text messages to aid in quitting vaping, have shown positive results. For instance, one study found that teens using a text message program were 35% more likely to quit vaping within seven months compared to those who didn't use the program.

Although the QuitQuest app is new and lacks specific safety data, apps and text message programs for quitting smoking or vaping generally don't cause physical side effects. They offer support and practical advice without involving medical procedures or medications, making them safe for users.

Most treatments for teen vaping cessation involve counseling or traditional nicotine replacement therapies like patches and gum. However, QuitQuest is unique because it leverages the accessibility and engagement of a smartphone app to help teens quit vaping. Unlike other methods, QuitQuest provides interactive support and personalized feedback directly on a device teens use daily. Researchers are excited about this approach because it combines technology with behavioral health strategies, potentially making it more effective and appealing to the teenage demographic who are often tech-savvy and in need of discreet, supportive cessation tools.

Research has shown that QuitQuest, one of the smartphone apps tested in this trial, uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and might help teens quit vaping more effectively. Previous efforts using mobile apps or text messages have yielded good results in helping teens stop vaping. For example, one study found that participants were 35% more likely to quit vaping with a program that sent interactive, personalized text messages. Another study showed a 52% increase in the chances of quitting for those using a vaping cessation program compared to others. These findings suggest that digital tools like QuitQuest could play a crucial role in helping teens break the habit. This trial will compare QuitQuest with the NCI's SFTQV app to evaluate their effectiveness in supporting vaping cessation.²⁴⁵⁶⁷