Pilot Trial of the First Conversational Agent for Smoking Cessation (QuitBot)

Cigarette smoking is the most preventable cause of cancer in the US, accounting for one-third of all cancer deaths. Within the Fred Hutchinson Center's western Washington State 13-county catchment area, there are enormous disparities in adult cigarette smoking rates. Our recently completed WebQuit website RCT for smoking cessation had low engagement and no personalization to users' needs. Fortunately, a potentially game-changing solution to the problems of engagement and lack of personalization provide a new direction for my research. Advances in machine learning, natural language processing, and cloud computing are making it possible to create and widely disseminate conversational agents (CAs), which are computer-powered digital coaches designed to form long-term social-emotional connections with users through conversations. We have developed a CA for cigarette smoking cessation. In a pilot randomized trial (N = 415), we will compare the experimental messaging program with the standard of care national government smoking cessation messaging program, and then we will compare immediate versus delayed access to the the experimental messaging program. Twelve-week usability, receptivity, and preliminary cessation results will provide critical and timely pilot data.

Inclusion criteria

• age 18 or older
• smokes at least five cigarettes daily for at least past 12 months
• wants to quit cigarette smoking in the next 14 days
• if concurrently using any other nicotine or tobacco products, wants to quit using them within the next 14days
• resides in western Washington State (in the following counties: Clallam, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Mason, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston, and Whatcom)
• interested in learning skills to quit smoking
• willing to be randomly assigned to either condition
• has at least daily access to their own personal smartphone
• has and uses both text messaging and Facebook Messenger on their smartphone
• willing and able to read in English
• not using other smoking cessation interventions (including apps or our other intervention studies).
• willing to complete one 3-month follow-up survey
• willing to provide email, phone, and mailing address.

Exclusion criteria

• The exclusion criteria are opposite of the inclusion criteria listed above.