Title

The Use of Automated Text Messaging as an Intervention for Smoking Cessation

Author

Oluwasayo Sinkaiye, Valparaiso University

Date of Award

4-27-2021

Degree Type

Evidence-Based Project Report

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Nursing

First Advisor

Theresa A. Kessler

Abstract

Tobacco smoking is a widespread problem that affects the adult population in the United States (U.S.). In 2018, about 14 of every 100 adults in the USA aged 18 years or older were cigarette smokers (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2020). Tobacco smoking is associated with chronic disease conditions that have serious health implications including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (CDC, 2020). The purpose of this evidence-based practice project (EBP) was to determine the effectiveness of an automated text messaging application (SmokefreeTXT) for smoking cessation in a primary care setting for adult cigarette smokers aged 18 years or older. The revised Iowa Model was used to guide this project in a primary care setting located in northwest Indiana. A single group comparison design was used and it consisted of eleven males and two females. Participants were enrolled on the SmokefreeTXT website to receive daily text messages focused on smoking cessation for six weeks. All participants set their quit date as the following day after enrollment. A comparison of the number of cigarettes smoked per day before and after the intervention was done to determine if abstinence (smoked five or less cigarettes during the project) was achieved or if there was a decrease in number of cigarettes smoked per day. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze abstinence while a paired t test was used to analyze the mean pre-intervention and mean post-intervention number of cigarettes smoked per day. Abstinence was achieved in 69.23% of participants (n = 9). The mean pre-intervention number of cigarettes smoked per day was (M = 10.85, SD = 3.78) and the mean post-intervention number of cigarettes smoked per day was (M = 3.92, SD = 5.19). The decrease in the number of cigarettes smoked per day was found to be statistically and clinically significant t(12) = 4.83, p < .001). Results demonstrated that the SmokefreeTXT application was effective as an intervention for smoking cessation. This EBP project has been adopted by the project site as a viable method for smoking cessation.

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Recommended Citation

Sinkaiye, Oluwasayo, "The Use of Automated Text Messaging as an Intervention for Smoking Cessation" (2021). Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports. 164.
https://scholar.valpo.edu/ebpr/164