Can smartwatches help you quit smoking?

A study from the University of Bristol (UK) shows that developing sensor software on smart watches that can detect when users smoke can support the process of quitting smoking.

Researchers have developed advanced motion-sensing software for smartwatches that can detect typical hand movements of a person with a smoking habit, The Guardian reported on January 1.

When smoking is detected, the smartwatch will light up, the app will vibrate, and send a message advising you to stop smoking. The content can include a motivational message like “Quitting smoking helps you breathe easier. Quitting is good” or contain information about how many cigarettes you smoke a day.

A dedicated app on a smartwatch can give reminders and encourage users to quit smoking.

PHOTO: UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL

According to the study published in the journal JMIR Formative Research , scientists at the University of Bristol believe that the app they have developed is the first timely intervention to prevent a person from relapse, as it alerts the moment a person is about to smoke. In addition, the app can be used on a smartwatch without being connected to a phone.

The study tested the smartwatch app on 18 smokers aged 18-70 who wanted to quit smoking and smoked more than 10 cigarettes a day. They wore the smartwatch with a warning sensor for 2 weeks, after which they answered 27 questions. The results showed that 66% of the participants accepted wearing a smartwatch with a smoking warning sensor, while 61% said that the messages received were relevant to them.

Positive feedback included people saying the app raised their awareness of smoking, made them want to quit, stopped and thought before they smoked, helped them smoke less, and provided constant encouragement. Meanwhile, negative feedback said the messages were repetitive, which led to a loss of effectiveness, some messages were slow to appear, there was a lack of variety in messages, or the information was sometimes ambiguous.

The next step the team hopes to take is to test its long-term effectiveness and to use a variety of quit-smoking messages.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dong-ho-thong-minh-co-the-ho-tro-bo-thuoc-la-185250101211549765.htm