Evaluating the Impact of Pharmacotherapy in Augmenting Quit Rates Among Hispanic Adults in an App-Delivered Smoking Cessation Intervention: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial

BackgroundHispanic adults receive less advice to quit smoking and use fewer evidence-based smoking cessation treatments compared to their non-Hispanic counterparts. Digital smoking cessation interventions, such as those delivered via smartphone apps, provide a feasible and wi...

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Main Authors: Margarita Santiago-Torres, Kristin E Mull, Brianna M Sullivan, Ana Paula Cupertino, Ramzi G Salloum, Matthew Triplette, Michael J Zvolensky, Jonathan B Bricker
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JMIR Publications 2025-01-01
Series:JMIR Formative Research
Online Access:https://formative.jmir.org/2025/1/e69311
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author Margarita Santiago-Torres
Kristin E Mull
Brianna M Sullivan
Ana Paula Cupertino
Ramzi G Salloum
Matthew Triplette
Michael J Zvolensky
Jonathan B Bricker
author_facet Margarita Santiago-Torres
Kristin E Mull
Brianna M Sullivan
Ana Paula Cupertino
Ramzi G Salloum
Matthew Triplette
Michael J Zvolensky
Jonathan B Bricker
author_sort Margarita Santiago-Torres
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundHispanic adults receive less advice to quit smoking and use fewer evidence-based smoking cessation treatments compared to their non-Hispanic counterparts. Digital smoking cessation interventions, such as those delivered via smartphone apps, provide a feasible and within-reach treatment option for Hispanic adults who smoke and want to quit smoking. While the combination of pharmacotherapy and behavioral interventions are considered best practices for smoking cessation, its efficacy among Hispanic adults, especially alongside smartphone app–based interventions, is uncertain. ObjectiveThis secondary analysis used data from a randomized controlled trial that compared the efficacy of 2 smoking cessation apps, iCanQuit (based on acceptance and commitment therapy) and QuitGuide (following US clinical practice guidelines), to explore the association between pharmacotherapy use and smoking cessation outcomes among the subsample of 173 Hispanic participants who reported on pharmacotherapy use. Given the randomized design, we first tested the potential interaction of pharmacotherapy use and intervention arm on 12-month cigarette smoking abstinence. We then examined whether the use of any pharmacotherapy (ie, nicotine replacement therapy [NRT], varenicline, or bupropion) and NRT alone augmented each app-based intervention efficacy. MethodsParticipants reported using pharmacotherapy on their own during the 3-month follow-up and cigarette smoking abstinence at the 12-month follow-up via web-based surveys. These data were used (1) to test the interaction effect of using pharmacotherapy to aid smoking cessation and intervention arm (iCanQuit vs QuitGuide) on smoking cessation at 12 months and (2) to test whether the use of pharmacotherapy to aid smoking cessation augmented the efficacy of each intervention arm to help participants successfully quit smoking. ResultsThe subsample of Hispanic participants was recruited from 30 US states. They were on average 34.5 (SD 9.3) years of age, 50.9% (88/173) were female, and 56.1% (97/173) reported smoking at least 10 cigarettes daily. Approximately 22% (38/173) of participants reported using pharmacotherapy to aid smoking cessation at the 3-month follow-up, including NRT, varenicline, or bupropion, with no difference between intervention arms. There was an interaction between pharmacotherapy use and intervention arm that marginally influenced 12-month quit rates at 12 months (P for interaction=.053). In the iCanQuit arm, 12-month missing-as-smoking quit rates were 43.8% (7/16) for pharmacotherapy users versus 28.8% (19/16) for nonusers (odds ratio 2.21, 95% CI 0.66-7.48; P=.20). In the QuitGuide arm, quit rates were 9.1% (2/22) for pharmacotherapy users versus 21.7% (15/69) for nonusers (odds ratio 0.36, 95% CI 0.07-1.72; P=.20). Results were similar for the use of NRT only. ConclusionsCombining pharmacotherapy to aid smoking cessation with a smartphone app–based behavioral intervention that teaches acceptance of cravings to smoke (iCanQuit) shows promise in improving quit rates among Hispanic adults. However, this combined approach was not effective with the US clinical guideline–based app (QuitGuide). Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT02724462; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02724462 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)RR2-10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.4055
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spelling doaj-art-412c5e1d40a840fdba9967fe8a122c662025-01-31T20:32:08ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Formative Research2561-326X2025-01-019e6931110.2196/69311Evaluating the Impact of Pharmacotherapy in Augmenting Quit Rates Among Hispanic Adults in an App-Delivered Smoking Cessation Intervention: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled TrialMargarita Santiago-Torreshttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6051-3172Kristin E Mullhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7918-3078Brianna M Sullivanhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4145-7459Ana Paula Cupertinohttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7594-969XRamzi G Salloumhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8139-2418Matthew Triplettehttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7421-4720Michael J Zvolenskyhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1869-0906Jonathan B Brickerhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5694-8795 BackgroundHispanic adults receive less advice to quit smoking and use fewer evidence-based smoking cessation treatments compared to their non-Hispanic counterparts. Digital smoking cessation interventions, such as those delivered via smartphone apps, provide a feasible and within-reach treatment option for Hispanic adults who smoke and want to quit smoking. While the combination of pharmacotherapy and behavioral interventions are considered best practices for smoking cessation, its efficacy among Hispanic adults, especially alongside smartphone app–based interventions, is uncertain. ObjectiveThis secondary analysis used data from a randomized controlled trial that compared the efficacy of 2 smoking cessation apps, iCanQuit (based on acceptance and commitment therapy) and QuitGuide (following US clinical practice guidelines), to explore the association between pharmacotherapy use and smoking cessation outcomes among the subsample of 173 Hispanic participants who reported on pharmacotherapy use. Given the randomized design, we first tested the potential interaction of pharmacotherapy use and intervention arm on 12-month cigarette smoking abstinence. We then examined whether the use of any pharmacotherapy (ie, nicotine replacement therapy [NRT], varenicline, or bupropion) and NRT alone augmented each app-based intervention efficacy. MethodsParticipants reported using pharmacotherapy on their own during the 3-month follow-up and cigarette smoking abstinence at the 12-month follow-up via web-based surveys. These data were used (1) to test the interaction effect of using pharmacotherapy to aid smoking cessation and intervention arm (iCanQuit vs QuitGuide) on smoking cessation at 12 months and (2) to test whether the use of pharmacotherapy to aid smoking cessation augmented the efficacy of each intervention arm to help participants successfully quit smoking. ResultsThe subsample of Hispanic participants was recruited from 30 US states. They were on average 34.5 (SD 9.3) years of age, 50.9% (88/173) were female, and 56.1% (97/173) reported smoking at least 10 cigarettes daily. Approximately 22% (38/173) of participants reported using pharmacotherapy to aid smoking cessation at the 3-month follow-up, including NRT, varenicline, or bupropion, with no difference between intervention arms. There was an interaction between pharmacotherapy use and intervention arm that marginally influenced 12-month quit rates at 12 months (P for interaction=.053). In the iCanQuit arm, 12-month missing-as-smoking quit rates were 43.8% (7/16) for pharmacotherapy users versus 28.8% (19/16) for nonusers (odds ratio 2.21, 95% CI 0.66-7.48; P=.20). In the QuitGuide arm, quit rates were 9.1% (2/22) for pharmacotherapy users versus 21.7% (15/69) for nonusers (odds ratio 0.36, 95% CI 0.07-1.72; P=.20). Results were similar for the use of NRT only. ConclusionsCombining pharmacotherapy to aid smoking cessation with a smartphone app–based behavioral intervention that teaches acceptance of cravings to smoke (iCanQuit) shows promise in improving quit rates among Hispanic adults. However, this combined approach was not effective with the US clinical guideline–based app (QuitGuide). Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT02724462; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02724462 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)RR2-10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.4055https://formative.jmir.org/2025/1/e69311
spellingShingle Margarita Santiago-Torres
Kristin E Mull
Brianna M Sullivan
Ana Paula Cupertino
Ramzi G Salloum
Matthew Triplette
Michael J Zvolensky
Jonathan B Bricker
Evaluating the Impact of Pharmacotherapy in Augmenting Quit Rates Among Hispanic Adults in an App-Delivered Smoking Cessation Intervention: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial
JMIR Formative Research
title Evaluating the Impact of Pharmacotherapy in Augmenting Quit Rates Among Hispanic Adults in an App-Delivered Smoking Cessation Intervention: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial
title_full Evaluating the Impact of Pharmacotherapy in Augmenting Quit Rates Among Hispanic Adults in an App-Delivered Smoking Cessation Intervention: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial
title_fullStr Evaluating the Impact of Pharmacotherapy in Augmenting Quit Rates Among Hispanic Adults in an App-Delivered Smoking Cessation Intervention: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating the Impact of Pharmacotherapy in Augmenting Quit Rates Among Hispanic Adults in an App-Delivered Smoking Cessation Intervention: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial
title_short Evaluating the Impact of Pharmacotherapy in Augmenting Quit Rates Among Hispanic Adults in an App-Delivered Smoking Cessation Intervention: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial
title_sort evaluating the impact of pharmacotherapy in augmenting quit rates among hispanic adults in an app delivered smoking cessation intervention secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial
url https://formative.jmir.org/2025/1/e69311
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