Texting may help boost smokers quit their tobacco habit.

Researchers at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University carried out a large trial utilizing a mobile device text-messaging program.

Lorien C. Abroms, ScD, MA, an associate professor of prevention and community health at Milken Institute SPH and the lead author of the study, along with colleagues, invited 503 smokers to participate in their study. The internet participants were randomized to obtain either a text-messaging program called Text2Quit, or self-help information geared towards helping smokers quit the habit.

The Text2Quit program involves text messages that are interactive, giving smokers advice and guidance, while permitting them to request additional help or reset their quit date if more time is needed. For those having trouble kicking the habit, a text can be sent, after which a game or tip will be sent back to help distract them from their tobacco addiction.

After six months, a survey was sent to the original participants to identify how many people had actually stopped smoking as a result of the mobile device program. The researchers discovered that those who used the text-messaging program were much more likely to quit smoking as compared to the control group. Such findings suggest that these mobile device programs can offer a means of offering people a boost when they are struggling to kick their tobacco-smoking habit.

“Text messages seem to give smokers the constant reminders they need to stay focused on quitting,” said Abroms in a statement. “However, additional studies must be done to confirm this result and to look at how these programs work when coupled with other established anti-smoking therapies.”