Augmented reality as a novel approach for addiction treatment: development of a smoking cessation app
Objective Augmented reality (AR) is a rapidly developing technology that has substantial potential as a novel approach for addiction treatment, including tobacco use. AR can facilitate the delivery of cue exposure therapy (CET) such that individuals can experience the treatment in their natural envi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Annals of Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/07853890.2022.2140451 |
| _version_ | 1797988980985167872 |
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| author | Min-Jeong Yang Karen O. Brandon Steven K. Sutton Marloes Kleinjan Leslie E. Sawyer Thomas H. Brandon Christine Vinci |
| author_facet | Min-Jeong Yang Karen O. Brandon Steven K. Sutton Marloes Kleinjan Leslie E. Sawyer Thomas H. Brandon Christine Vinci |
| author_sort | Min-Jeong Yang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective Augmented reality (AR) is a rapidly developing technology that has substantial potential as a novel approach for addiction treatment, including tobacco use. AR can facilitate the delivery of cue exposure therapy (CET) such that individuals can experience the treatment in their natural environments as viewed via a smartphone screen, addressing the limited generalizbility of extinction learning. Previously, our team developed a basic AR app for smoking cessation and demonstrated the necessary mechanisms for CET. Specifically, we showed that the AR smoking cues, compared to neutral cues, elicited substantial cue reactivity (i.e. increased urge) and that repeated exposure to the AR smoking cues reduced urge (i.e. extinction) in a laboratory setting. Here we report the next step in the systematic development of the AR app, in which we assessed the usability and acceptability of the app among daily smokers in their natural environments.Method Daily smokers (N = 23, 78.3% female, Mean Age = 43.4, Mean Cigarettes/Day = 14.9), not actively quitting, were instructed to use the AR app in locations and situations where they smoke (e.g. home, bar) at least 5 times per day over one week. The study is registered in clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04101422).Results Results indicated high usability and acceptability. Most of the participants (73.9%) used the AR app on at least 5 days. Participants found the AR cues realistic and well-integrated in their natural environments. The AR app was perceived as easy to use (Mean = 4.1/5) and learn (mean of 2 days to learn). Overall satisfaction with the app was also high. Secondary analyses found that 56.5% reported reduced smoking, with an average 26% reduction in cigarettes per day at follow-up.Conclusions These findings set the stage for a randomized controlled trial testing the AR app as an adjuvant therapy for treating tobacco dependence, with potential applicability to other substances. KEY MESSAGEThis study found that the augmented reality (AR) smartphone application that utlized cue exposure treatment for smoking cessation was perceived as easy to use and learn in the natural, day-to-day environment of daily smokers. Findings set the stage for a larger clinical trial testing the AR app as an adjuvant therapy for treating tobacco dependence, with potential applicability to other addictive behaviors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T08:13:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c95579142f9244ca879dae10b90a2058 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0785-3890 1365-2060 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T08:13:01Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-c95579142f9244ca879dae10b90a20582022-12-22T04:35:18ZengTaylor & Francis GroupAnnals of Medicine0785-38901365-20602022-12-015413096310610.1080/07853890.2022.2140451Augmented reality as a novel approach for addiction treatment: development of a smoking cessation appMin-Jeong Yang0Karen O. Brandon1Steven K. Sutton2Marloes Kleinjan3Leslie E. Sawyer4Thomas H. Brandon5Christine Vinci6Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USADepartment of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USADepartment of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USADepartment of Child and Adolescent Health, Trimbos Institute, Utrecht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USADepartment of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USADepartment of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USAObjective Augmented reality (AR) is a rapidly developing technology that has substantial potential as a novel approach for addiction treatment, including tobacco use. AR can facilitate the delivery of cue exposure therapy (CET) such that individuals can experience the treatment in their natural environments as viewed via a smartphone screen, addressing the limited generalizbility of extinction learning. Previously, our team developed a basic AR app for smoking cessation and demonstrated the necessary mechanisms for CET. Specifically, we showed that the AR smoking cues, compared to neutral cues, elicited substantial cue reactivity (i.e. increased urge) and that repeated exposure to the AR smoking cues reduced urge (i.e. extinction) in a laboratory setting. Here we report the next step in the systematic development of the AR app, in which we assessed the usability and acceptability of the app among daily smokers in their natural environments.Method Daily smokers (N = 23, 78.3% female, Mean Age = 43.4, Mean Cigarettes/Day = 14.9), not actively quitting, were instructed to use the AR app in locations and situations where they smoke (e.g. home, bar) at least 5 times per day over one week. The study is registered in clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04101422).Results Results indicated high usability and acceptability. Most of the participants (73.9%) used the AR app on at least 5 days. Participants found the AR cues realistic and well-integrated in their natural environments. The AR app was perceived as easy to use (Mean = 4.1/5) and learn (mean of 2 days to learn). Overall satisfaction with the app was also high. Secondary analyses found that 56.5% reported reduced smoking, with an average 26% reduction in cigarettes per day at follow-up.Conclusions These findings set the stage for a randomized controlled trial testing the AR app as an adjuvant therapy for treating tobacco dependence, with potential applicability to other substances. KEY MESSAGEThis study found that the augmented reality (AR) smartphone application that utlized cue exposure treatment for smoking cessation was perceived as easy to use and learn in the natural, day-to-day environment of daily smokers. Findings set the stage for a larger clinical trial testing the AR app as an adjuvant therapy for treating tobacco dependence, with potential applicability to other addictive behaviors.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/07853890.2022.2140451Cue exposure therapysmokingsmartphone appurgeaugmented realityaddiction |
| spellingShingle | Min-Jeong Yang Karen O. Brandon Steven K. Sutton Marloes Kleinjan Leslie E. Sawyer Thomas H. Brandon Christine Vinci Augmented reality as a novel approach for addiction treatment: development of a smoking cessation app Annals of Medicine Cue exposure therapy smoking smartphone app urge augmented reality addiction |
| title | Augmented reality as a novel approach for addiction treatment: development of a smoking cessation app |
| title_full | Augmented reality as a novel approach for addiction treatment: development of a smoking cessation app |
| title_fullStr | Augmented reality as a novel approach for addiction treatment: development of a smoking cessation app |
| title_full_unstemmed | Augmented reality as a novel approach for addiction treatment: development of a smoking cessation app |
| title_short | Augmented reality as a novel approach for addiction treatment: development of a smoking cessation app |
| title_sort | augmented reality as a novel approach for addiction treatment development of a smoking cessation app |
| topic | Cue exposure therapy smoking smartphone app urge augmented reality addiction |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/07853890.2022.2140451 |
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