Smartphone Apps Targeting Youth Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation: An Assessment of Credibility and Quality

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose of Review: The goals of this study were to identify smartphone apps targeting youth tobacco use prevention and/or cessation discussed in the academic literature and/or available in the Apple App Store and to review and rate the credibility of the apps. We took a multiphase approach in a non-systematic review that involved conducting parallel literature and App Store searches, screening the returned literature and apps for inclusion, characterizing the studies and apps, and evaluating app quality using a standardized rating scale. Recent Findings: The negative consequences of youth tobacco use initiation are profound and far-reaching. Half of the youth who use nicotine want to quit, but quit rates are low. The integration of smartphone apps shows promise in complementing and enhancing evidence-based youth tobacco prevention and treatment methods. Summary: Consistent with prior reviews, we identified a disconnect between apps that are readily accessible and those that have an evidence base, and many popular apps received low quality scores. Findings suggest a need for better integration between evidence-based and popular, available apps targeting youth tobacco use.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)649-663
Number of pages15
JournalCurrent Addiction Reports
Volume10
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Funding

Research reported in this publication was supported by grants K01DA048135 (LM), U54HL120163 (JLH), 20YVNR35500014 (JLH), K01CA253235 (JKJ), R01ES030743 (EMMG), R01ES027815 (EMMG), and R34AT010365 (KAG). The funding sponsors had no role in study design; data collection, analyses, or interpretation; manuscript preparation; or the decision to publish the results. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the funding sponsors.

FundersFunder number
Center for Biomedical Informatics and Information Technology, National Cancer Institute
Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute
National Childhood Cancer Registry – National Cancer Institute
American the American Heart Association20YVNR35500014, U54HL120163
American the American Heart Association
Center for Strategic Scientific Initiatives, National Cancer InstituteK01CA253235
Center for Strategic Scientific Initiatives, National Cancer Institute
National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Environmental Health SciencesR01ES027815, R01ES030743
National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
National Center for Complementary and Integrative HealthR34AT010365
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
National Cancer Institute Division of Cancer Epidemiology and GeneticsK01CA253235
National Cancer Institute Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics
National Institute on Drug AbuseK01DA048135
National Institute on Drug Abuse

    Keywords

    • Apps
    • Cigarette
    • Mobile health
    • Smoking
    • Tobacco
    • Youth

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Clinical Psychology
    • Psychiatry and Mental health

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