The document summarizes a text messaging program called SMAT that was created by Evolution Health Systems and the Canadian Cancer Society to help young adults quit smoking. SMAT provided proactive and reactive text messages on a schedule for 12 weeks to 183 users who registered online. Users engaged well with the program and found it useful, with 32% quitting smoking after 3 months. The evaluation identified areas for improvement in the next phase, such as offering pharmaceutical aids and text chat support to help prevent relapse.

1. Montre à La Cigarette C’est Qui Le Boss! :P Using Highly Tailored Text Messages to Help Young Adults Quit Smoking Rachel Fournier, Catherine Lavoie, Trevor van Mierlo, Peter Selby Medicine 2.0 Congress September 18, 2011

6. Adapting for Young Adults

9. Reaching Young Adults

11. How Does It Work? A. Proactive messages: text schedule B. Reactive messages: reply with a keyword Distraction Envie Pause Oups Party Stress Prep. Week Quit Day Week 1 Weeks 2-4 Weeks 5-12 1 / day 2 2 / day 1 / day 2 / wk

14. Why didn’t you confirm your registration? n = 38 I changed my mind – I don’t want to quit smoking anymore 21 % I never received the first text message asking me to text « ok » to confirm my registration 16 % I forgot to confirm my registration 13 % I didn’t understand i had to text « ok » to confirm my registration and receive the text messages 11 % I didn’t understand that SMAT offered support over my cell phone 5 % I was worried it would cost money 5 % I texted « ok » but nothing happened 3 % I didn’t like the text message i received from SMAT 3 % I don’t remember 8 % Other reasons (lost interest, concerned about fraud, gave a residential number, didn’t know how) 13 %

16. Keyword Utilization Reasons for not using keywords n=30 I didn’t need them 60% I didn’t remember the keywords 23% I thought it would cost money 5% I don’t like to write text messages 4% I didn’t know there were keywords 4% Other reasons 6%

20. Relapse Relapse Triggers n=54 Stressful situation 62% Alcohol 50% Being around other smokers 42% Withdrawl symptoms (cravings, irritibility, anxiety, difficulty concentrating) 35% Weight gain 3% Other reasons 11%

21. Relapse What would have prevented relapse? n=54 Using pharmaceutical aids while along with the service 45% Ability to text chat with a quit specialist 40% Being buddied up with another quitter 27% Receiving more text messages 21% Receiving more follow-up calls from a specialist 13% Participating in a quit contest 12% Staying home / going out less / less partying 7% Not being around smokers 5% Other reasons 7% Don’t know 7%