Level Up!  An Abstinence Game for Smoking Cessation

Authors:
Anna Rhett, PharmD
Ha K. Phan, PharmD, BCACP

Reviewers:
Jordan Graves, PharmD
Amy Robertson, PharmD, BCACP
Amanda Schartel, PharmD, BCACP

Citation:
Houston TK, Chen J, Amante DJ, et al. Effect of Technology-Assisted Brief Abstinence Game on Long-term Smoking Cessation in Individuals Not Yet Ready to Quit: A Randomized Clinical Trial.  JAMA Intern Med 2022; 182 (3): 303-312.

The Problem

Smoking remains a habit for many people, even among those who are motivated to quit. Despite the unfavorable health effects associated with smoking, such as heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cancer, many individuals who continue to smoke are not yet ready to quit.^1,2,3 Sixty-eight percent of adult smokers indicate that they’ve thought about quitting.⁴ Historically, most smoking cessation interventions have targeted individuals who are ready to quit smoking in the next 30 days, overlooking those who are not yet ready to quit.