Decídetexto: Feasibility and Acceptability of a Mobile Smoking Cessation Intervention in Puerto Rico.

Francisco Cartujano-Barrera,Josiemer Mattei,Evelyn Arana-Chicas,José Pérez-Ramos,Alejandra Hurtado-De-Mendoza,Eida Castro,Julio Jiménez,Rosario Costas-Muñiz,Cristina Peña-Vargas,Ana Cupertino

doi:10.3390/ijerph18041379

Abstract

The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a mobile smoking cessation intervention in Puerto Rico. This was a single-arm pilot study with 26 smokers in Puerto Rico who were enrolled in Decídetexto, a mobile smoking cessation intervention. Decídetexto incorporates three integrated components: (1) a tablet-based software that collects smoking-related information to develop an individualized quit plan, (2) a 24-week text messaging counseling program with interactive capabilities, and (3) pharmacotherapy support. Outcome measures included self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence at Months 3 and 6, pharmacotherapy adherence, satisfaction with the intervention, and changes in self-efficacy. The average age of the participants was 46.8 years (SD 12.7), half of them (53.8%) were female. Most participants (92.3%) smoked daily and half of them (53.8%) used menthol cigarettes. All participants requested nicotine patches at baseline. However, only 13.0% of participants used the patch >75% of days. At Month 3, 10 participants (38.4%) self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence (88.5% follow-up rate). At Month 6, 16 participants (61.5%) self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence (76.9% follow-up rate). Most participants (90%, 18/20) reported being satisfied/extremely satisfied with the intervention at Month 6. Self-efficacy mean scores significantly increased from 40.4 (SD 12.1) at baseline to 57.9 (SD 11.3) at Month 3 (p < 0.01). The study suggests that Decídetexto holds promise for further testing among Puerto Rican smokers.

Highlights

The study was conducted between September 2019 and August 2020 at the Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU), Puerto Rico
The earthquake has been really hard for me”). This is the first mobile smoking cessation intervention conducted in Puerto Rico
This study demonstrates the feasibility of recruiting and enrolling Puerto Rican smokers into a smoking cessation study

Summary

Introduction

Puerto Ricans constitute a Caribbean Latino group that, despite their U.S citizenship status, experience clear sociodemographic disadvantages and residential segregation [1,2,3]. Puerto Ricans suffer from marked health disparities compared to other Latino ethnic groups, despite the fact that they have higher access to government financial assistance, health insurance, and healthcare [4]. Puerto Ricans in the U.S mainland have the highest smoking prevalence and a harder time quitting smoking compared to other. Latino ethnic groups [5,6,7]. While cigarette use varies significantly by gender among other Latino ethnic groups, cigarette use does not vary by gender among Puerto

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Discussion

Conclusion