Researchers at the University of Houston have made significant strides in smoking cessation efforts tailored for the Hispanic community with the launch of Impacto, a pioneering Spanish-language Android app. This innovative tool is designed to resonate with the cultural experiences of Hispanic smokers, addressing the unique challenges they face in their journey to quit smoking. The findings from the pilot test, published in the Journal of Substance Abuse & Addiction Treatment, reveal promising results, including reduced daily smoking rates and enhanced cessation outcomes.
Michael Zvolensky, the Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished University Professor of Psychology, emphasizes the importance of this initiative. “Hispanic individuals who smoke face greater challenges in quitting and a higher risk of smoking-related health problems than the general population,” he notes. Contributing factors such as limited access to treatment and chronic stress stemming from experiences of racial and ethnic discrimination exacerbate these issues, making the path to quitting even more daunting.
Impacto is designed to tackle the stress and anxiety that often accompany the quitting process. The app provides personalized support by focusing on how users experience anxiety, including both physical symptoms and negative emotions. In a pilot study involving 30 Hispanic smokers, participants averaged 31 years of age and had a smoking history of over 15 years, with a daily consumption of approximately 15 cigarettes.
User-friendly
The app offers a structured approach, guiding users through four lessons each week over the course of eight weeks. During the initial week, participants engage in interoceptive exercises aimed at enhancing their awareness of bodily sensations, which can help manage anxiety while quitting. These exercises include activities such as spinning in a chair, performing jumping jacks, or breathing rapidly, all designed to familiarize users with sensations like a racing heartbeat, ultimately reducing anxiety.
“Participants practice the interoceptive exercises daily and prior to their quit attempt. These exercises decrease emotional responsivity to bodily and emotional stress and make quitting easier. They must do it before quitting, much like a runner would have to practice running increasingly longer to eventually run a marathon,” explains Zvolensky.
The official quit day for participants is set for the end of week four. The results from the pilot study were encouraging, with over half of the participants (65.4%) reporting smoking abstinence four weeks after their quit date. Additionally, there was a notable decrease in both the number of cigarettes smoked per day and anxiety sensitivity levels from baseline to four weeks post-quit. High levels of feasibility, acceptability, and engagement were also reported among users.
Looking ahead, Impacto is set to undergo a rigorous randomized control clinical trial across the United States, further evaluating its effectiveness. The pilot test also saw collaboration from esteemed institutions, including The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas at Austin, and Bristol Myers Squibb.
For further details, refer to the study by Zvolensky et al. published in the Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment.
