Pilot Trial of the First Conversational Agent for Smoking Cessation (QuitBot)

Cigarette smoking is the most preventable cause of cancer in the US, accounting for one-third
of all cancer deaths. Within the Fred Hutchinson Center's western Washington State 13-county
catchment area, there are enormous disparities in adult cigarette smoking rates. Our recently
completed WebQuit website RCT for smoking cessation had low engagement and no personalization
to users' needs. Fortunately, a potentially game-changing solution to the problems of
engagement and lack of personalization provide a new direction for my research. Advances in
machine learning, natural language processing, and cloud computing are making it possible to
create and widely disseminate conversational agents (CAs), which are computer-powered digital
coaches designed to form long-term social-emotional connections with users through
conversations. We have developed a CA for cigarette smoking cessation. In a pilot randomized
trial (N = 415), we will compare the experimental messaging program with the standard of care
national government smoking cessation messaging program, and then we will compare immediate
versus delayed access to the the experimental messaging program. Twelve-week usability,
receptivity, and preliminary cessation results will provide critical and timely pilot data.

Inclusion Criteria:

- age 18 or older

- smokes at least five cigarettes daily for at least past 12 months

- wants to quit cigarette smoking in the next 14 days

- if concurrently using any other nicotine or tobacco products, wants to quit using them
within the next 14days

- resides in western Washington State (in the following counties: Clallam, Grays Harbor,
Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Mason, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston,
and Whatcom)

- interested in learning skills to quit smoking

- willing to be randomly assigned to either condition

- has at least daily access to their own personal smartphone

- has and uses both text messaging and Facebook Messenger on their smartphone

- willing and able to read in English

- not using other smoking cessation interventions (including apps or our other
intervention studies).

- willing to complete one 3-month follow-up survey

- willing to provide email, phone, and mailing address.

Exclusion Criteria:

- The exclusion criteria are opposite of the inclusion criteria listed above.