Brief Abstinence Games and Nicotine Replacement Therapy

Smoking cessation interventions typically target smokers who are preparing to quit. But most smokers aren't ready to quit. Evidence suggests that engaging smokers who aren't ready to quit yet in experiences, such as brief abstinence periods (to practice smoking cessation behaviors) and brief courses of nicotine replacement therapy (i.e., “NRT sampling”) might lead to later smoking cessation.

In this randomized trial, researchers compared “Take a Break” (TAB), a 3-week abstinence game, plus NRT sampling (with nicotine lozenges) to NRT sampling alone in 433 adult smokers (mean age, 54) who weren't ready to quit. TAB components included motivational text messages, challenge quizzes, goal-setting with a tobacco treatment, coping mini-games, and …