Quit Guide app | By National Cancer Institute |
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Features
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Clinical review |
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Security and privacy | Does the app:
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Cost | Free |
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Quit Guide app
Quit Guide app
- An app from the National Cancer Institute aimed at anyone wanting to quit smoking.
![yellow unaunahi tile](/assets/Introduction-Images/Healthify-Website-tiles-Generic-6.png)
This app aims to support people who are trying to quit smoking. Users are prompted to set a quit date and record a personal message, together with a picture, about their reason for quitting. This message is a source of motivation and going forward, every time the user opens the app, the message and picture appear as a reminder. There are options to share on Facebook, track smoking habits such as when cravings occur, or specific moods that prompt smoking and set motivational messages about smoking cessation at the places and times the user is most likely to smoke.
For a more detailed description of the app, see Google Play(external link) or iTunes(external link) and for a detailed review, see reviews below.
PROS | CONS |
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✔ Has provision for user to create a simple quit plan. |
✘ Some links don't work. |
Clinical review
Reviewer: Lena Estrin, Community Pharmacist
Date of review: November 2022
Platform: Android
Version: 2.1.26
Comments: This is a useful free app which helps people understand their smoking habits and support them to quit smoking. By tracking cravings and moods people can get a sense of what their triggers are, and then put in place actions to prevent smoking in these circumstances. For example, if there is a time or place that you often crave cigarettes, you can set a reminder message to come up at this time. Or, if it’s when you feel a certain way (eg, lonely or stressed), it will come up with a suggestion to help manage this without smoking. All your efforts to quit smoking are reinforced with the app showing you the number of days you have been smokefree, and the time and money this will have saved you. It has been made by a reputable organisation and has no pesky ad popups. Drawbacks are that it is not New Zealand based and so referrals are to American based quit lines.
Safety concerns: None.
New Zealand relevance: Most of the content of the app is relevant to New Zealanders. Tracking and message prompts and advice on ‘how to quit’ (including medicines you can use to support quitting) are all similar to what we recommend in New Zealand. The money saved is in US dollars and so underestimates the true savings made from quitting smoking. Being a US based app, it does not link to New Zealand quit smoking services or references.
Clinical review
Reviewer: Brendon McIntosh, Community Pharmacist, Māori Pharmacist Association
Date of review: November 2017
Comments: This app is most helpful for people who like to track how they are going daily and record their feelings as a part of the smoking cessation journey. It's useful for anyone who has tried to quit but wants an extra hand this time or something to help them be accountable. It's a very encouraging app that has new alerts pop up each day and allows the person to keep track of how many days they have been smokefree. This app makes quitting fun and more like a game. But also has serious reminders about why you are quitting and the benefits that will come. If only it had NZ links then it would be perfect.
Safety concerns: None.
New Zealand relevance: The general advice and the medicines talked about are the same as in New Zealand. The only difference is that it links to the American Quitsmoking website and for the money saved part it is in US dollars which only goes up to $10 for a packet of cigarettes. This doesn’t reflect New Zealand prices therefore the money saved part of the app is highly underestimated.
This app has been reviewed by other independent websites:
QuitGuide is a great, free smoking cessation app from the National Cancer Institute(external link) iMedicalApps, August 2016
References
The following references relate to articles about apps for smoking cessation:
- Whittaker RI, McRobbie H, Bullen C, Rodgers A, Gu Y. Mobile phone-based interventions for smoking cessation(external link) Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Apr 10;4:CD006611
- Hoeppner BB, Hoeppner SS, Seaboyer L, et al. How Smart are Smartphone Apps for Smoking Cessation? A Content Analysis(external link) Nicotine Tob Res. 2016. May;18(5):1025-31
- Heminger CL, Schindler-Ruwisch JM, Abroms LC. Smoking cessation support for pregnant women: role of mobile technology(external link) Subst Abuse Rehabil. 2016 Apr 12;7:15-26
- Baskerville NB, Dash D, Wong K, et al. Perceptions Toward a Smoking Cessation App Targeting LGBTQ+ Youth and Young Adults: A Qualitative Framework Analysis of Focus Groups(external link) JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2016;2(2):e165
- Ubhi HK, Michie S, Kotz D, et al. Characterising smoking cessation smartphone applications in terms of behaviour change techniques, engagement and ease-of-use features(external link).Transl Behav Med. 2016;6(3):410-7
- Abroms LC, Lee Westmaas J, Bontemps-Jones J, et al. A content analysis of popular smartphone apps for smoking cessation(external link) Am J Prev Med. 2013 Dec;45(6):732-6
- Finkelstein J, Cha EM. Using a Mobile App to Promote Smoking Cessation in Hospitalized Patients(external link) JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2016;4(2):e59
- A handbook on how to implement mTobaccoCessation(external link) WHO publication, 2015
Disclaimer: The NZ Health App Library is a free consumer service to help you decide whether a health app would be suitable for you. Our review process is independent. We have no relationship with the app developers or companies and no responsibility for the service they provide. This means that if you have an issue with one of the apps we have reviewed, you will need to contact the app developer or company directly. |
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