Smartwatches Show Promise in Supporting Smoking Cessation Efforts

A University of Bristol study explores how smartwatch-based interventions could help smokers quit by detecting relapses and delivering timely support.

• Researchers at the University of Bristol developed a smartwatch app that uses motion sensors to detect smoking-related hand movements and deliver supportive messages in real time.
• The app, tested in a two-week pilot study with 18 participants, aims to prevent smoking relapses by intervening at critical moments with tailored behavioral prompts.
• Participants reported increased awareness of their smoking habits, with 66% finding the intervention practical and 61% finding the messages relevant to their quitting journey.
• Critiques included limited message variety and occasional delays in message delivery, highlighting areas for improvement in future iterations of the app.
• Experts emphasize the need for further research to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of smartwatch-based interventions, while advocating for sustained funding for smoking cessation services.

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