In today’s digital age, technology plays an increasingly vital role in improving health outcomes across various domains. In our previous article on How Can Technology Impact Your Fitness, we discussed how technology provides tools and resources to support individuals in achieving their health goals. This can encompass fitness tracking apps, such as MyFitnessPal, and even online health trials like the Run on the Edge: Run for a Year challenge.
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Similarly, technology holds significant promise in the realm of smoking cessation, offering innovative solutions to help individuals quit smoking for good. Below, we explore the different ways you can leverage tech to quit the vice.
Explore smoking cessation apps
Smoking cessation apps harness the power of technology to provide users with a comprehensive toolkit for quitting smoking. These apps offer a variety of features and resources, including mindfulness exercises, behavioral therapy techniques, tracking tools, support communities, and more.
Mindfulness training, for example, has been shown to be effective in helping individuals manage cravings. A former trial confirmed that simply ten minutes on Headspace, a mindfulness training app, twice a day for two weeks can help users cope with the challenges of quitting smoking. This equates to more abstinence days and fewer cigarettes smoked.
Before downloading any app, make sure to be clear on your goals and preferred approach. Afterward, you can compare the features, user reviews, and ratings of different apps to find one that aligns with your preferences.
Maximize smartphone-based medication reminders
Whether it’s prescription medications like varenicline and bupropion or smokeless alternatives such as nicotine gum and pouches, sticking to the recommended regimen is essential for maximizing its efficacy. Smartphone-based medication reminders provide a convenient and accessible way to stay on track with medications, ensuring that individuals receive the full benefits of their cessation treatment.
See how a 2023 pilot study maximized the Insight smartphone app within its smoking cessation treatment, prompting users to complete daily diary assessments and track smoking or nicotine gum/lozenge usage. This allowed the app to send reminders on when to take varenicline, under the brand name Chantix, as prescribed. Similarly, you can find an app that allows you to set personalized medication reminders. For those with more hectic schedules or forgetful mindsets, an app with multiple reminder methods can help ensure that you receive timely prompts.
Leverage online platforms for alternatives
While technology undoubtedly improves adherence to alternatives and medications, it also ensures accessibility for individuals seeking effective cessation methods. In particular, e-commerce platforms play a crucial role in increasing access to smokeless alternatives.
For instance, sales of nicotine pouches have increased exponentially since the product’s release in the US market in 2016. The best-selling brand ZYN alone sold 350 million tubs in 2023. A significant factor contributing to this success is their accessibility online and offline. See how the e-commerce platform Prilla offers a wide selection of brands, from ZYN and VELO to Lucy and White Fox. With the online site’s services, individuals can easily browse, purchase, and receive nicotine pouches without ever leaving their homes. Whether you’re buying pouches from Prilla, gums from Nicorette, or patches from Habitrol, choose reputable online sites that offer a user-friendly interface. These tend to also provide secure payment options for a safe and convenient online shopping experience.
Sign up for telehealth
By leveraging videoconferencing, messaging apps, and online resources, telehealth offers personalized support and guidance to individuals on their quitting journey. Beyond convenience and accessibility, telehealth bridges geographical barriers, making it especially invaluable for reaching individuals in rural areas or unique situations.
When researchers launched Positively Smoke Free, a novel telehealth-based group program, among men incarcerated in a rural state prison in 2021, they were able to confirm a 7-day point prevalence of smoking abstinence after one year. Similarly, you can look for a telehealth program that caters to your specific needs, whether it highlights gender, age, or even medical condition, for more personalized support and guidance.
As technology continues to evolve, it will undoubtedly play an increasingly vital role in supporting individuals on their journey toward a smoke-free life. For more on the latest technological innovations and advancements, check out our other articles on Tech Baji.
