New smartwatch app 'could help smokers quit'

A new smartwatch app which intervenes when typical hand movements of smoking are detected could help people quit, researchers say.

Technology developed at the University of Bristol uses motion sensors to pick up on cigarette use and delivers a vibration alert with a text message offering support.

"If we can identify this point of lapse and deliver an intervention precisely at that point, we have an opportunity to improve the success of the quit attempt," said Chris Stone from the university's tobacco and alcohol research group.

Academics who carried out a study on 18 smokers said they want to carry out a longer-term trial with a greater variety of messages.

One message reads: "Stopping smoking lets you breathe more easily...Quitting is good."

Other messages contain a tally of how many cigarettes smoked and the total number of drags taken that day.

After reading the message users can swipe it away or press a button to display information about accessing the NHS smoking support pages online.

"For those who are trying to give up, an initial lapse is a vulnerable moment and risks leading to a full relapse to smoking," Mr Stone added.

The app was tested on 18 smokers over two weeks, who wore a Ticwatch with the software installed and took it off only to shower, swim or play sports.

Some of the participants found the app effective, researchers said, while others reported the messages were vague.

"This study shows smartwatches could be a useful method to help people quit smoking," said Alizee Froguel, prevention policy manager at Cancer Research UK, which funded the work.

"But more research is needed to understand how effective they are."

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