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NCT03951766

Version 2 of the Smoking Cessation Smartphone App "Smiling Instead of Smoking" (SiS)

Completed NA Results posted Last updated 26 July 2022
What this trial tests

NA trial testing Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 2 in Smoking Cessation in 100 participants. Completed in 8 June 2020.

Timeline
24 June 2019
Primary endpoint
8 January 2020
8 June 2020

Quick facts

Lead sponsorMassachusetts General Hospital
PhaseNA
StatusCompleted
Study typeINTERVENTIONAL
Allocationna
Designsingle group
Maskingnone
Primary purposetreatment
Enrollment100
Start date24 June 2019
Primary completion8 January 2020
Estimated completion8 June 2020
Sites1 location across United States

Drugs / interventions tested

Conditions studied

Sponsor

Massachusetts General Hospital

Who can join

18 and older, any sex, with Smoking Cessation or Smoking, Tobacco. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Results — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Per-arm endpoint measurements with 95% confidence intervals where reported. Source: trial results section.

Ease-of-use and Helpfulness of the App Primary · 6 weeks after chosen smoking cessation date

As rated by app users 6 weeks after their chosen smoking cessation date via open-ended REDCap survey. This survey asks questions concerning feasibility, usefulness, and overall opinions of specific app features. Responses were rated on 4-point Likert-scales with ease-of-use rated with the options 0 = Not easy at all \| 1 = Somewhat easy to use \| 2 = Easy to use \| 3 = Very easy to use, and usefulness rated with the options 0 = Not at all useful \| 1 = Somewhat useful \| 2 = Useful \| 3 = Very useful. For both ease-of-use and usefulness items, scores range from 0 to 3 with higher scores indica

Ease of use: Completing the positive psychology exercises every day.
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 22.39± 0.89
Ease of use: Specifically, completing the specific exercise called 3 Good Things.
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 22.36± 0.89
Ease of use: Specifically, completing the specific exercise called Savoring.
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 22.42± 0.79
Ease of use: Specifically, completing the specific exercise called Experiencing Kindness.
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 22.39± 0.90
Ease of use: Specifically, completing the specific exercise called Reliving Happy Moments.
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 22.54± 0.77
Ease of use: Specifically, completing the specific exercise called Rose, Thorn and Bud.
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 22.40± 0.83
Ease of use: Viewing your past happiness exercises in the Happiness Log.
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 22.64± 0.67
Ease of use: Viewing Owl Wisdoms within the Treasure Chest menu.
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 22.57± 0.65
Within-person Changes in Theorized Mechanism of Behavior Change - Questionnaire of Smoking Urges (Cox et al., 2001) Secondary · Baseline, 2-weeks, and 6-weeks post-quit

This 10-item scale assesses overall nicotine dependence, craving, and smoking withdrawal symptoms. Items were rated on a 7-point Likert-scale ranging from 1=Strongly disagree to 7=Strongly agree. We presented mean instead of total scores for ease in interpretation, so that scale scores can range from 1.0 to 7.0, with higher scores indicating greater smoking urges.

Baseline
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 23.66± 1.36
Week 2
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 22.50± 1.38
Week 6
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 22.18± 1.57
Within-person Changes in Theorized Mechanism of Behavior Change - Single-item Urges Measure Secondary · Baseline, 2-weeks, and 6-weeks post-quit

Single-item measure: "Right now, how strong is your desire/urge to smoke?". This single-item measure was rated on a scale of "0, not at all strong" to "100, extremely strong", so that higher scores indicate stronger smoking urges.

Baseline
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 250.87± 27.03
Week 2
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 231.27± 29.31
Week 6
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 226.12± 30.90
Within-person Changes in Theorized Mechanism of Behavior Change - Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (Watson et al., 1988) Secondary · Baseline, 2-weeks, and 6-weeks post-quit

This 20-item scale measures positive and negative. Participants were asked to indicate how they felt in the past week, using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1="very slightly or not at all" to 5="extremely." Scores for 10 positive words and 10 negative words were summed separately and were reported as mean scores (not scale totals) ranging from 1-5, with lower scores indicating low (positive or negative) affect and higher scores indicating high (positive or negative) affect. The 10 items for POSITIVE (PA) affect are attentive, interested, alert, excited, enthusiastic, inspired, proud, deter

PANAS - Positive Affect - Baseline
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 23.39± 0.82
PANAS - Positive Affect - Week 2
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 23.47± 0.77
PANAS - Positive Affect - Week 6
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 23.59± 0.90
PANAS - Negative Affect - Baseline
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 22.32± 1.02
PANAS - Negative Affect - Week 2
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 22.13± 0.79
PANAS - Negative Affect - Week 6
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 22.18± 1.10
Within-person Changes in Theorized Mechanism of Behavior Change - Subjective Happiness Scale (Lyubomirsky & Lepper, 1999) Secondary · Baseline, 2-weeks, and 6-weeks post-quit

This 4-item scale assesses global subjective happiness. Each question is rated on a Likert-scale of 1-7. Scale scores were reported as mean scores in this study, with higher scores indicating higher subjective happiness.

Baseline
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 24.77± 1.39
Week 2
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 24.81± 1.38
Week 6
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 24.94± 1.42
Within-person Changes in Theorized Mechanism of Behavior Change - Single-item Happiness Measures Secondary · Baseline, 2-weeks, and 6-weeks post-quit

Two single-item happiness measures were used: "In the PAST WEEK, how happy have you felt?" and "How happy are you feeling RIGHT NOW?". Both items were rated on slider scales ranging from 0="not at all" to 100="extremely", such that higher scores indicate greater levels of happiness.

Happiness Past Week - Baseline
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 267.74± 21.50
Happiness Past Week - Week 2
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 267.75± 21.88
Happiness Past Week - Week 6
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 269.69± 23.91
Happiness Right Now - Baseline
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 270.04± 20.38
Happiness Right Now - Week 2
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 268.55± 25.34
Happiness Right Now - Week 6
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 270.03± 24.93
Within-person Changes in Theorized Mechanism of Behavior Change - Self-Efficacy to Abstain From Smoking Questionnaire (Etter et al., 2000) Secondary · Baseline, 2-weeks, and 6-weeks post-quit

The 12-item Smoking Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (SEQ-12) assesses confidence to abstain from smoking when faced with internal stimuli (6 items; e.g., when I feel very anxious) and external stimuli (6 items; e.g., after a meal). Items were assessed on slider scales ranging from 0="not at all confident" to 100="extremely confident" and results are presented as mean scale scores, where higher scores indicate greater self-efficacy to abstain from smoking.

SEQ Internal Cues - Baseline
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 253.44± 22.04
SEQ Internal Cues - Week 2
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 260.15± 23.33
SEQ Internal Cues - Week 6
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 266.98± 29.09
SEQ External Cues - Baseline
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 258.89± 21.10
SEQ External Cues - Week 2
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 264.75± 23.31
SEQ External Cues - Week 6
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 270.64± 26.92
Within-person Changes in Theorized Mechanism of Behavior Change - Single-item Self-efficacy Measure Secondary · Baseline, 2-weeks, and 6-weeks post-quit

The single-item self-efficacy measure asked: "How CONFIDENT are you that you will be able to quit smoking/stay quit?" This item was measured on a slider scale ranging from 0="not at all" to 100="extremely confident", so that higher scores indicate greater confidence in the ability to quit smoking or stay quit.

Baseline
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 275.71± 20.05
2-week
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 276.91± 19.42
6-week
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 281.22± 22.16
Within-person Changes in Theorized Mechanism of Behavior Change - Single-item Motivation to Quit Measure Secondary · Baseline, 2-weeks, and 6-weeks post-quit

The single-item self-efficacy measure asked: "How MOTIVATED are you to quit smoking/ stay quit?" This item was measured on a slider scale ranging from 0="not at all" to 100="extremely motivated", where higher scores indicate a greater motivation to quit smoking or stay quit.

Baseline
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 288.04± 14.57
2-week
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 283.74± 18.36
6-week
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 281.73± 22.61
Within-person Changes in Theorized Mechanism of Behavior Change - Attitudes Towards Smoking Scale (Etter et al., 2000) Secondary · Baseline, 2-weeks, and 6-weeks post-quit

The 18-item Attitudes Towards Smoking (ATS-18) scale measures attitudes towards smoking in current and former cigarette smokers. It was rated on a 5-point Likert scale, from 1="strongly disagree" to 5="strongly agree.". The ATS-18 has 3 sub-scales: Adverse effects of smoking (items 1-10), psychoactive benefits of smoking (items 11-14), and pleasure of smoking (items 15-18). To score, all items per sub-scale were averaged to obtain a mean score within each sub-scale. For each sub-scale, higher scores indicate greater agreement with the specific attitude towards smoking.

ATS-18 Adverse effects of smoking - Baseline
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 24.42± 0.54
ATS-18 Adverse effects of smoking - Week 2
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 24.46± 0.55
ATS-18 Adverse effects of smoking - Week 6
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 24.44± 0.83
ATS-18 Psychoactive benefits of smoking - Baseline
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 23.97± 0.73
ATS-18 Psychoactive benefits of smoking - Week 2
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 23.59± 1.01
ATS-18 Psychoactive benefits of smoking - Week 6
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 23.17± 1.29
ATS-18 Pleasure of smoking - Baseline
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 23.27± 1.00
ATS-18 Pleasure of smoking - Week 2
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 22.95± 1.23
Within-person Changes in Theorized Mechanism of Behavior Change - Commitment to Quitting Scale (Kahler et al., 2007) Secondary · Baseline, 2-weeks, and 6-weeks post-quit

The Commitment to Quitting Smoking Scale (CQSS) asks participants to rate their level of agreement (Likert scale, 1="strongly disagree" to 5="strongly agree") on 8-items assessing motivation to quit smoking (e.g., I'm not going to let anything get in the way of my quitting smoking). Scale scores are reported as the average of all items, where higher scores indicate a greater commitment to quitting smoking.

Baseline
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 24.08± 0.67
Week 2
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 23.98± 0.76
Week 6
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 24± 0.99
Within-person Changes in Theorized Mechanism of Behavior Change - Decisional Balance Inventory (DBI) for Smoking Short Form (Ward et al., 2004) Secondary · Baseline, 2-weeks, and 6-weeks post-quit

This 6-item form assesses the personal importance people place on positive and negative smoking expectancies. Items were rated on slider scales ranging from 0="not at all important" to 100="extremely important." Two sub-scale mean scores were calculated: positive expectancies (3 items), and negative smoking expectancies (3 items). On both scales, higher scores indicate a greater importance of the smoking expectancies (positive or negative).

DBI positive expectancies - Baseline
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 256.59± 19.89
DBI positive expectancies - Week 2
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 245.01± 23.96
DBI positive expectancies - Week 6
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 235.97± 29.49
DBI negative expectancies - Baseline
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 268.61± 26.24
DBI negative expectancies - Week 2
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 266.44± 26.25
DBI negative expectancies - Week 6
GroupValue95% CI
Smiling Instead of Smoking (SiS) App Version 266.17± 28.93

Sponsor's own description

The overall goal of this pilot study is to solicit feedback from nondaily smokers looking for smoking cessation support online (n=90) about Version 2 of a smartphone app investigators designed to support smoking cessation, and to test if within-person theorized mechanisms of change are occurring as participants undergo the app-assisted quit attempt. Data sources will be passively collected smartphone app usage data, surveys and, in a sub-sample (n=20), online video-conference user feedback sessions. Results will be used to guide the design of Version 3.0 of the "Smiling Instead of Smoking" (SiS) smartphone app. Specifically, the aims of this study are to: 1. Assess ease-of-use and helpfulness of the app, as rated by app users 6 weeks after their chosen smoking cessation date 2. Test if within-person changes occur in theorized mechanisms of behavior change as nondaily smokers undergo a SiS app assisted quit attempt 3. Identify app features in need of improvement, as identified by passively recorded app usage patterns, REDCap open-ended survey items, and, in a sub-sample, user feedback sessions (n=20)

Publications & conference data

4 peer-reviewed publications reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

  1. Feature-Level Analysis of a Smoking Cessation Smartphone App Based on a Positive Psychology Approach: Prospective Observational Study.
    Hoepper BB, Siegel KR, Carlon HA, Kahler CW, et al · · 2022 · cited 12× · PMID 35900835 · DOI 10.2196/38234
  2. A Smoking Cessation App for Nondaily Smokers (Version 2 of the Smiling Instead of Smoking App): Acceptability and Feasibility Study.
    Hoeppner BB, Siegel KR, Carlon HA, Kahler CW, et al · · 2021 · cited 8× · PMID 34787577 · DOI 10.2196/29760
  3. COVID-19 Impact on Smokers Participating in Smoking Cessation Trials: The Experience of Nondaily Smokers Participating in a Smartphone App Study.
    Hoeppner SS, Carlon HA, Kahler CW, Park ER, et al · · 2021 · cited 5× · PMID 35720753 · DOI 10.1089/tmr.2021.0008
  4. Smoking Cessation Smartphone App for Nondaily Smoking With Telephone Onboarding: Proof-of-Concept Randomized Controlled Trial.
    Hoeppner BB, Siegel KR, Futter AE, Finley-Abboud D, et al · · 2025 · PMID 39814363 · DOI 10.2196/53971

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