WATCH ABOVE: Researchers at the University of Waterloo say an interactive app is more effective among young smokers. Marianne Dimain explains why.
Smokers who are trying to butt out should turn to their smartphones, according to new Canadian research. If you’re young, social media, consistent support and apps that track your progress may be your best bet in turning over a new leaf, they say.
University of Waterloo scientists say that young Canadians who used social media and apps aimed at helping smokers quit are twice as successful in kicking their habit compared to their peers who relied on telephone-counselling and other tools.
“These findings suggest that the creators of public health campaigns need to evaluate how they use social media channels and social networks to improve health, especially with regards to younger demographics,” lead researcher Dr. Bruce Baskerville said.
“They can access support right on the spot as compared to having to make a phone call…I think we have to adapt to the times and we do see older adults making use of this technology as well so we could be seeing some changes in how we reach people,” he told Global News.
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His findings are based on studying the progress of two groups of smokers: one group who used a Canadian Cancer Society app called Break It Off and another group who used the program’s telephone-based support.
The society launched the app in 2012 to target young adults using social media. The app keeps track of how many days users have gone without smoking, how much money they’ve saved in the process, and even helps users pay attention to parts of the day when they’re most vulnerable. Instead of picking up the phone to talk to a counsellor, they can text in real time with an expert on the app.
READ MORE: How health officials helped 120,000 people quit smoking
“We designed a campaign specifically targeting young adults that spoke to them in a way that they would want to be spoken to using tools that they’re used to such as social media, YouTube and Facebook,” Elizabeth Harvey, senior manager of the society’s Smokers’ Helpline, told Global News.
It’s worked so far: three months into the program, 32 per cent of smokers who used the app and web tools quit smoking, while 14 per cent of their counterparts using only phone-based help quit.
Keep in mind, 19 to 29 year olds in Canada make up the highest rates of smoking. They also use traditional services, such as helplines, the least.
READ MORE: Smokers who quit before 40 save a decade of their lives: study
His full findings were published in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research. Read the study here.
carmen.chai@globalnews.ca
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