Testing a smartphone app for smoking cessation (Smoke Free) among young people with psychosis: feasibility, acceptability and preliminary outcomes

Background People with severe mental illness have a high prevalence of smoking but limited access to smoking cessation support. Smartphone applications (apps) offer scalable solutions and may be suitable for this population.Aims We aimed to assess the feasibility of recruiting and retaining young adults receiving care for First-Episode Psychosis (FEP) and to explore the acceptability of the Smoke Free app within this population.Methods Participants aged 18–35 years, under Early Intervention Services, were invited to use the Smoke Free app for 6-weeks. A mixed-methods design was employed comprising pre- and post- intervention surveys, followed by semi-structured interviews with a sub-sample of participants. Adverse events were self-reported during the intervention and on completion.Results We enrolled 24 out of 32 potentially eligible individuals referred (76%). At 6-weeks, the retention rate was 75% (18/24). No adverse events were reported. Self-reported outcomes at the 6-week follow-up showed reduced cigarette consumption, nicotine dependence, and improved depression scores.Conclusions Using a smoking cessation app appears feasible and acceptable among young adults with FEP. Future trials should compare standard and adapted versions of the app tailored to the specific needs of this population and address recruitment barriers, and provide appropriate technical support to accommodate varying digital literacy, to avoid exacerbating the digital divide.