QuitTXT

Description:

The QuitTxt program sends text messages to support quit attempts. It is available on the QuitCoach website and can be used in combination with the QuitCoach program. Upon signup the user can select how many texts they wish to receive per day (light 1-4, reduced 2-6 or the default 3-8). Messages are tailored according to factors such as age and gender, as well as the stage of quitting. The messages can be tailored around a planned quit date or start once a quit attemt has begun. Users can send text messages to the service to update their quit status and therefore the messages they will recieve. Users can also send a text message to prompt "emergency help" when they feel tempted to relapse. The content of the messages is designed to provide advice and motivation to improve persistence while trying to quit. Messages will cease when a user has quit for 1 month or if messages have been received for 20 days without at least a quit date being set. 

Service URL:

http://www.quitcoach.org.au/QuitTextInformation.aspx

Agency Responsible:

Cancer Council Victoria.

Details

Format:

Website.

Intervention Type:

Psychological – CBT. Advice, motivation and strategies to facilitate persistence delivered via SMS

Course Length:

Other. Multiple (1 - 8) SMS delivered per day

Support Option:

Automated only.

Target Audience

Primary Category:

Smoking.

Target Audience:

Adult.

Language:

English.

Access

Fee:

Free.

Access:

Open: With registration.

Contact Details:

Through website https://www.quit.org.au/contact

Research evidence

Research Trials:

1

Research RCTs:

1

Outcome Summary:

In one RCT, QuitTxt (then called onQ) did not produce a significant improvement in the success of quit attempts (six month abstinence) compared to controls, though participants in the QuitTxt group had a 14.3% success rate compared to 11.6% in the control group. The RCT also tested QuitTxt in combation with QuitCoach, and results did not differ significantly from using either of the two interventions separately. These results may have been influenced by the fact that participants in the control group were free to use alternative interventions and that the number of participants engaging with with the intervention was low. 

Recommended rating, reviewer 1:

Recommended rating, reviewer 2:

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Research paper citations

RCTS:

1) Borland, R., Balmford, J., & Benda, P. (2013). Population‐level effects of automated smoking cessation help programs: a randomized controlled trial. Addiction, 108(3), 618-628.

Other Evidence:

2) Balmford, J., & Borland, R. (2014). How do smokers use a smoking cessation text messaging intervention?. nicotine & tobacco research, 16(12), 1586-1592.