title: Comparative analysis of smoking cessation smartphone applications available in 2012 versus 2014.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Smartphone applications (apps) offer a potentially cost-effective and a wide-reach aid to smoking cessation. In 2012, a content analysis of smoking cessation apps suggested that most apps did not adopt behaviour change techniques (BCTs), which according to previous research had suggested would promote higher success rates in quitting smoking. This study examined whether or not, this situation had changed by 2014 for free smoking cessation apps available in the Apple App Store. It also compared the use of engagement and ease-of-use features between the two time points.
  
  
  METHODS
  137 free apps available in the Apple App Sore in 2014 were coded using an established framework for the presence or absence of evidence-based BCTs, and engagement and ease-of-use features. The results from the 2014 data were compared with a similar exercise conducted on 83 free apps available in 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BCTs supporting identity change, rewarding abstinence and advising on changing routines were less prevalent in 2014 as compared with 2012 (14.6% vs. 42.2%, 18.2% vs. 48.2%, and 17.5% vs. 24.1%, respectively). Advice on coping with cravings and advice on the use of stop-smoking medication were more prevalent in 2014 as compared with 2012 (27.7% vs. 20.5% and 14.6% vs 3.6%, respectively). The use of recognised engagement features was less common in 2014 than in 2012 (45.3% vs. 69.6%) while ease-of-use features remained very high (94.5% vs. 82.6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was little evidence of improvement in the use of evidence-based BCTs in free smoking cessation iPhone-based apps between 2012 and 2014.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK; Department of Family Medicine, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: harveenk26@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Harveen Kaur
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Ubhi
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK; Department of Family Medicine, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Institute of General Practice, Medical Faculty of the Heinrich-Heine, University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kotz
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Effectiveness and Health Psychology, Centre for Outcome Research and Effectiveness, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Michie
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Onno C P
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: van Schayck
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sheard
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: Abiram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Selladurai
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK; Department of Family Medicine, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: West
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000639:trends*; D066249:Craving; D006801:Humans; D063731:Mobile Applications / Q000639:trends*; D000068997:Smartphone; D012907:Smoking / Q000628:therapy*; D016540:Smoking Cessation
keywords: Applications; Apps; BCTs; Behaviour change intervention; Behaviour change techniques; Content analysis; Ease-of-use; Engagement; Mobile; Smartphone; Smoking; Smoking cessation; Taxonomy