Outcomes of a Comprehensive Mobile Vaping Cessation Program in Adults Who Vape Daily: Cohort Study

Abstract

BackgroundIn the United States, e-cigarettes, or vapes, are the second most commonly used tobacco product. Despite abundant smartphone app–based cigarette cessation programs, there are few such programs for vaping and even fewer supporting data. ObjectiveThis exploratory, prospective, single-arm, remote cohort study of the Pivot vaping cessation program assessed enrollment and questionnaire completion rates, participant engagement and retention, changes in attitudes toward quitting vaping, changes in vaping behavior, and participant feedback. We aimed to establish early data to inform program improvements and future study design. MethodsAmerican adults aged ≥21 years who vaped daily, reported ≥5 vape sessions per day, and planned to quit vaping within 6 months were recruited on the web. Data were self-reported via app- and web-based questionnaires. Outcomes included engagement and retention (ie, weeks in the program, number of Pivot app openings, and number of messages sent to the coach), vaping attitudes (ie, success in quitting and difficulty staying quit), vaping behavior (ie, quit attempts, Penn State Electronic Cigarette Dependence Index, 7- and 30-day point-prevalence abstinence [PPA], and continuous abstinence [defined as ≥7-day PPA at 12 weeks+30-day PPA at 26 weeks+0 vaping sessions since 12 weeks]), and participant feedback. ResultsIn total, 73 participants onboarded (intention-to-treat sample); 68 (93%) completed the 12- and 26-week questionnaires (completer samples). On average, participants were active in Pivot for 13.8 (SD 7.3) weeks, had 87.3 (SD 99.9) app sessions, and sent 37.6 (SD 42.3) messages to their coach over 26 weeks. Mean success in quitting and difficulty staying quit (scale of 1-10) improved from baseline to 12 weeks—4.9 (SD 2.9) to 7.0 (SD 3.0) and 4.0 (SD 2.8) to 6.2 (SD 3.1), respectively (P90%, average program engagement duration was approximately 14 weeks, and most participants reported increased motivation to quit vaping. These and early cessation outcomes herein suggest a role for Pivot in vaping cessation and will inform associated future study and program improvements.