Identifying the Barriers and Facilitators of Participation in mHealth Research Among African Americans Using a Mixed-Methods Approach.
University of Oklahoma
Summary
The overall objectives of this research proposal, are to (a) create a smartphone application for smoking cessation (i.e., HealthyCells), which will be achieved by integrating two pre-existing evidence-based smartphone interventions, (b) create culturally tailored treatment content (i.e., messages, images, and videos) for African American smokers, and (c) evaluate the feasibility of HealthyCells at addressing smoking and sedentary behavior among African Americans. A pilot sample of African American smokers (N = 15) will briefly use the HealthyCells app and provide critical feedback through semi-structured interviews to refine the smartphone intervention. Once the HealthyCells app is refined, African Americans (N = 30) who are interested in quitting smoking will use the app during a scheduled quit attempt. Starting on the scheduled quit date, HealthyCells will prompt participants to complete twice-daily remote smoking status assessments to earn rewards for abstinence. The app will deliver real-time messages telling participants to stand up and move around during prolonged bouts of sedentary behavior (i.e., ≥ 30 minutes of uninterrupted time spent in a sitting, reclining, or lying posture). Participants will also have on-demand access to culturally tailored information and strategies for remaining abstinent and reducing sedentary behavior within the HealthyCells app. The primary outcomes will be biochemically confirmed point prevalence smoking abstinence at 8 weeks post-quit date, and the difference in sedentary time 7 consecutive days before quitting compared with 7 consecutive days at 8-weeks post-quit, as measured by a research-grade accelerometer.
Description
African Americans are interested in quitting smoking, they attempt to quit smoking at a higher rate than Whites, yet they have lower cessation rates compared to Whites and many other racial/ethnic groups. Successfully increasing cessation rates among African Americans would reduce the racial disparity in mortality between African Americans and Whites by up to 20%. Many smoking cessation interventions include physical activity components to boost cessation rates, but no studies have attempted to promote sedentary behavior reduction as a cessation strategy, which may plausibly share similar bene…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Study Inclusion Criteria * Must be 18 years of age or older * Must identify as Black/African-American * Must smoke at least 5 cigarettes or cigarette equivalents per day (i.e., cigarettes, cigars, and cigarillos) * Must be willing to use NRT, a smartphone watch and app, and a smoking cessation counselor to help them quit smoking * Must be willing to quit smoking within the next 3 weeks * Must have a CO level of \>6 ppm at app activation. * Are not currently active, defined as engaging in less than 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity (e.g., brisk walking) or 75 minutes…
Interventions
- BehavioralHealthyCells
Smoking cessation smartphone app
Location
- TSET Health Promotion Research CenterOklahoma City, Oklahoma