Text Messaging for Supporting Quit Attempts

After discharge the experimental group has received extended care including a counseling session and text messages. The session provided basic information about smoking and successful quitting. The counselor has used motivational interview techniques to build coping skills with the goal of helping the participant build and implement a quit plan. The focus was to increase motivation to make quit attempt, including confidence building, medication use, and cessation planning. The session lasted approximately 30 minutes. Participants in the experimental arm were offered up to 30 text messages to help them to implement the quit plan discussed during the phone call. Patients motivated to quit in the next 30 days or those that had already quit have received 30 messages (2 per day) and patients unwilling to quit 16 (2 per day). The messages followed the self efficacy theory.