A new approach to smoking cessation, British scientists tested. Sending text messages solicitation stop smoking doubled their chances of successful cessation, according to study authors.
Over 10% of 2900 smokers who received such encouraging messages, have renounced the habit after 6 months. For comparison - only 4.9% of almost the same number of smokers who did not have the same support, have quit.
The authors of the study, published in The Lancet, called for mass dissemination of texts to be included in the mobile services that help people stop smoking.
According to statistics two thirds of smokers in the UK say they want to quit the habit.
The study included 5800 of them. SMS messages that promote smoking cessation have been sent to 2,915 smokers over a 6-month period. Other messages received with gratitude for their participation.
Texting are sent at intervals 5 texts a day during the first 5 weeks, then 3 times a week for the next 26 weeks.
Participants have the opportunity to reverse sms through which to ask questions and receive specific advice.
To understand whether people are really quit, researchers tested them for levels of cotinine, which is derived from the breakdown of nicotine in the body.
The results of 6-month study showed that 10.7% no longer smoke cigarettes. Dual less are separated by habit group of those who have not received messages that promote smoking cessation.
"Text messages really help people to resist the temptation to smoke." Said Dr. Carolyn The free, led the study.
The World Health Organization show that nearly 6 million people a year are victims of smoking. More than 1 billion smokers are in the world, nearly 100 million of them are Europeans.
Dr Derrick Bennett and Dr. Jonathan Embersan of Oxford University this method to quit smoking can be to help people around the world.
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