title: Crushing virtual cigarettes reduces tobacco addiction and treatment discontinuation.
abstract: Pilot studies revealed promising results regarding crushing virtual cigarettes to reduce tobacco addiction. In this study, 91 regular smokers were randomly assigned to two treatment conditions that differ only by the action performed in the virtual environment: crushing virtual cigarettes or grasping virtual balls. All participants also received minimal psychosocial support from nurses during each of 12 visits to the clinic. An affordable virtual reality system was used (eMagin HMD) with a virtual environment created by modifying a 3D game. Results revealed that crushing virtual cigarettes during 4 weekly sessions led to a statistically significant reduction in nicotine addiction (assessed with the Fagerström test), abstinence rate (confirmed with exhaled carbon monoxide), and drop-out rate from the 12-week psychosocial minimal-support treatment program. Increased retention in the program is discussed as a potential explanation for treatment success, and hypotheses are raised about self-efficacy, motivation, and learning.
authors.affiliation: GRAP, Occupational Psychology Clinic , Saguenay, Québec, Canada. g.r.a.p@videotron.ca
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Girard
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Turcotte
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bouchard
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Girard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D055815:Young Adult