An experimental investigation of reactivity to ecological momentary assessment frequency among adults trying to quit smoking.

ABSTRACT: AIMS:Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) captures real-time reports in subjects' natural environments. This experiment manipulated EMA frequency to estimate effects on abstinence and peri-cessation subjective experiences. DESIGN:In this randomized trial, subjects had an equal chance of being assigned to low-frequency (once) or high-frequency (six times) daily EMA for 4?weeks (1?week pre- and 3?weeks post-cessation). Participants completed six office visits over 5?weeks and 6- and 12-week follow-up telephone interviews. SETTING:Community participants were recruited from central New Jersey, USA. PARTICIPANTS:One hundred and ten adult daily smokers seeking to quit smoking were included in intent-to-treat analyses of tobacco abstinence; 94 were available for secondary analyses of peri-cessation subjective ratings. MEASUREMENTS:Primary outcomes were cessation (abstaining at least 24?hours within 2?weeks of attempting to quit) and prolonged abstinence (no relapse between weeks 2 and 12 post-quit). Secondary outcomes were mean levels and growth in ratings of cigarette craving, affect and quitting motivation and self-efficacy. FINDINGS:EMA frequency was unrelated to cessation (odds ratio?=?1.367, 95% confidence interval?=?0.603-3.098) or prolonged abstinence (odds ratio?=?1.040, 95% confidence interval?=?0.453-2.388) in intent-to-treat analyses. High-frequency EMA was associated with lower craving (B?=?-0.544, standard error (SE)?=?0.183, P?=?0.004, anxiety (B?=?-0.424, SE?=?0.170, P?=?0.015), anger (B?=?-0.474, SE?=?0.139, P?=?0.001), hunger (B?=?-0.388, SE?=?0.170, P?=?0.025) and positive affect (B?=?-0.430, SE?=?0.196, P?=?0.03). CONCLUSIONS:In smokers trying to quit, more frequent ecological momentary assessment self-monitoring results in lower craving, anxiety, anger, hunger and positive affect. It is not clear whether this translates into higher rates of smoking abstinence.

SUBMITTER: McCarthy DE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4565778 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature