Text Messages Help Smokers Quit

According to a recent NPR article, a review of studies published by the Cochrane Collaboration found that smokers who receive continuous, supportive text messages are more likely to quit smoking than those who do not receive them or who receive them less frequently. The review, conducted by Dr. Robyn Whittaker at the University of Auckland in New Zealand analyzed five studies with over 9,000 subjects trying to quit smoking. Smokers in the intervention groups received several text messages each day containing either motivational messages or quitting advice. Those in the control groups received less frequent text messages or were given information online or by phone.

Whittaker estimated that the text messages increased the chance of smokers quitting within six months from 4% to 5% in control groups and from 6% to 10% in the intervention groups. Based on these findings, some state and local health departments are exploring new online texting systems to support smokers trying to quit.