Digital solution for smoking cessation shows positive results in randomized trial
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A behavioral change digital health company has announced positive results from a randomized controlled trial for its app-based digital tool for tobacco use cessation.
Pivot’s tool provides evidence-based tobacco cessation interventions, an interactive breath sensor, human coaching, nicotine replacement therapy, a digital support community, as well as behavioral therapy, the company stated in a press release.
In a randomized controlled trial, individuals who used Pivot’s digital tool were compared with individuals who used a United States clinical practice guideline-based smoking cessation smartphone app from the National Cancer Institute.
The company reported that Pivot participants had higher engagement, net promoter scores and biovalidated cessation rates at weeks 12 and 26 of the trial, compared with those using the smartphone app from the National Cancer Institute.
“Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable illness, death and excess health care claims,” Pivot founder and CEO David S. Utley, MD, said in the release. “Helping people quit tobacco is a highly rated preventive service, and the optimal way to deliver this service is via a digital vector. In combination with previously published studies, the data demonstrates that Pivot is one of the most effective programs to help people durably quit tobacco.”
After 12 weeks, the quit rate for those using the Pivot program was 36%, and it increased to 38% at 26 weeks. In addition, Pivot users had a higher engagement with the program over 12 weeks, compared with those using the smartphone app from the National Cancer Institute — mean app use rate for Pivot was 158 vs. 87 in the control group.
At 26 weeks, users favored the Pivot app with a net promoter score of 58, compared with the score of 24 for those in the control group. Pivot users also reduced their cigarettes per day by 62% after 26 weeks, while control group individuals reduced their use by 39%.
“This study, with 6-month outcomes, supports the efficacy and durability of Pivot vs. an accepted control program and adds to the growing body of evidence identifying an emerging role for digital, app-based interventions for smoking cessation.” Jennifer D. Marler, MD, vice president of clinical and medical affairs at Pivot, said in the release.