Can smartwatches help with quitting smoking?

A study from the University of Bristol (UK) indicates that developing sensor software on smartwatches to detect when users are smoking could aid in the process of quitting smoking.

Researchers have developed advanced motion-sensing software for smartwatches that can detect the typical hand movements of a smoker, The Guardian reported on January 1.

When smoking is detected, the alert light on the smartwatch illuminates, the app vibrates, and sends a message advising you to stop smoking. The message may include encouragement such as "Quitting smoking makes breathing easier. Quitting is good" or information about how many cigarettes you smoked that day.

Specialized apps on smartwatches can provide reminders and encouragement for users to quit smoking.

PHOTO: UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL

According to research published in the journal JMIR Formative Research , scientists at the University of Bristol believe that the app they developed is the first timely intervention to prevent a relapse, as it warns users just as they are about to smoke. Furthermore, the app can be used on a smartwatch without needing to be connected to a phone.

The study tested a smartwatch application on 18 people aged 18-70 who wanted to quit smoking and smoked more than 10 cigarettes a day. They wore smartwatches with smoke detection sensors for two weeks, after which they answered 27 questions. The results showed that 66% of participants accepted wearing the smartwatch with smoking detection sensors, while 61% said the messages received were relevant to them.

Positive feedback included people who said the app raised their awareness of tobacco, made them want to quit, made them stop and think before smoking, helped them smoke less, and constantly encouraged them. Meanwhile, negative feedback suggested that the messages were repetitive, thus losing effectiveness, some messages displayed slowly, lacked variety, or the information was sometimes vague.

The next step the research team hopes to take is to test the long-term effectiveness and potentially use a variety of messages to support smoking cessation.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dong-ho-thong-minh-co-the-ho-tro-bo-thuoc-la-185250101211549765.htm