Mobile app to support smokers who are unsure about quitting
Evaluation of a Novel mHealth Intervention for People Who Are Ambivalent About Quitting Smoking: A Randomized Controlled Trial
A phone app offering short, guided exercises and links to quitting support for adult smokers who are unsure about quitting.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kaiser Foundation Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oakland, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11169778 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you smoke but aren’t ready to quit, you would be asked to try an app called GEMS that delivers short, self-guided exercises tailored for people ambivalent about quitting. Participants are randomly assigned to receive the GEMS app or a comparison condition and are followed over time to track smoking behavior and engagement. The app is designed to be low-cost and scalable, with content meant to increase motivation and connect users to counseling or medications when they decide they are ready. Researchers will use regular follow-up contacts to measure abstinence and other outcomes during the multi-year trial.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) who currently smoke and feel ambivalent about quitting—meaning they are not actively seeking formal quit treatment—would be the ideal participants.
Not a fit: People without access to a smartphone, those already actively pursuing intensive quit programs, or those under 21 are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the app could help smokers who aren’t ready to quit become more motivated and eventually stop using a low-cost, widely available tool.
How similar studies have performed: Other smartphone-based smoking-cessation programs have shown modest success, but approaches specifically targeting ambivalent smokers are newer and less proven.
Where this research is happening
Oakland, UNITED STATES
- Kaiser Foundation Research Institute — Oakland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcclure, Jennifer B — Kaiser Foundation Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Mcclure, Jennifer B
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.