Digital approaches to smoking cessation

Mobile smoking-cessation apps are widely available. Apps of good quality are based on smoking-cessation guidelines and/or behaviour-change techniques, and ideally should be proven effective in improving smoking-cessation outcomes. Mobile interventions using text messages are effective in improving outcomes, while internet-based interventions are moderately effective. Some smoking-cessation apps show a positive effect on smoking-cessation outcomes, especially among users who use the app as intended. Combining digital interventions with usual smoking-cessation support appears beneficial and feasible, but evidence on effectiveness is mixed. Relatively little is known about using digital approaches to support smoking cessation in people with COPD. Novel developments in digital smoking-cessation support include use of artificial intelligence and conversational agents.