Clinical trial · Interventional
Pilot Trial of a Game Embedded in a Smartphone App for Smoking Cessation
Influence of a Game Embedded in a Smartphone App for Smoking Cessation on User Engagement: A Randomized Pilot Trial
- Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Retrieved
- Sep 8, 2026
- Layer
- normalized (units and labels harmonized; values unchanged)
- Run
- ING-CLINICALTRIALS-20260908-000001
Summary
Brief summary (as posted)
This study evaluates the effects of a video game embedded in a commercially available mobile application (app) for smoking cessation. Smokers are increasingly turning to mobile health apps for assistance with quitting smoking, and there is a critical need for strategies to engage app users to increase retention and efficacy. Video games are designed to increase users' motivation and engagement, which in turn may increase their exposure and adherence to a smoking cessation program. The hypothesis is that the game increases engagement, retention, and smoking abstinence rates compared with a core version of the app without the game. A two-arm individually randomized pilot trial of 500 adult smokers will test this hypothesis, comparing outcomes for participants randomized to receive the core app plus embedded game with participants randomized to receive the core app only. Primary outcomes relate to user engagement with the app. Secondary outcomes relate to user engagement, efficacy (smoking abstinence), and user satisfaction.
Conditions
Conditions (1)
Free-text conditions as registered, with the CancerIndex entity they were reconciled to and the match type.
| Condition (as posted) | Mapped entity | Match | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cigarette Smoking-Related Carcinoma | Cigarette Smoking-Related Carcinoma | ONTOLOGY_EXACT | 0.98 |
Interventions
Interventions (2)
| Intervention | Type | Mapped drug | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game Module | Behavioral | — | UNRESOLVED |
| Smoke Free smartphone application | Behavioral | — | UNRESOLVED |
Design
Arms and outcomes
Arms (2)
- type
- EXPERIMENTAL
- label
- Education plus game module
- description
- Participants receive an educational intervention through the Smoke Free application with the embedded game module. Participants complete questionnaires and may undergo saliva sample collection, if they report being smoke-free on follow-up.
- interventionNames
- Behavioral: Game Module
- Behavioral: Smoke Free smartphone application
- type
- ACTIVE_COMPARATOR
- label
- Education module only
- description
- Participants receive an educational intervention through the Smoke Free application only (core app only). Participants complete questionnaires and may undergo saliva sample collection, if they report being smoke-free on follow-up.
- interventionNames
- Behavioral: Smoke Free smartphone application
Primary outcomes (2)
Eligibility
Eligibility (as posted)
- Sex
- All
- Minimum age
- 18 Years
Show eligibility criteria text
Inclusion criteria: 1. Provides electronic informed consent. 2. Male or female, aged 18 and older 3. Has downloaded and opened the Smoke Free app 4. A smoker of at least 1 cigarette per day 5. Plans to quit smoking within the next 7 days 6. Speaks, reads, and writes English 7. Lives in the United States Exclusion criteria: None
References
Publications (2)
- BACKGROUNDWhite JS, Salem MK, Toussaert S, Westmaas JL, Raiff BR, Crane D, Warrender E, Lyles C, Abroms L, Thrul J. Developing a Game (Inner Dragon) Within a Leading Smartphone App for Smoking Cessation: Design and Feasibility Evaluation Study. JMIR Serious Games. 2023 Aug 11;11:e46602. doi: 10.2196/46602. PMID 37566442
- DERIVEDWhite JS, Toussaert S, Raiff BR, Salem MK, Chiang AY, Crane D, Warrender E, Lyles CR, Abroms LC, Westmaas JL, Thrul J. Evaluating the Impact of a Game (Inner Dragon) on User Engagement Within a Leading Smartphone App for Smoking Cessation: Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res. 2024 Oct 30;26:e57839. doi: 10.2196/57839. PMID 39475840