Impacto — A single-arm open-label pilot trial of a digital-based integrated smoking cessation program for Spanish-speaking Hispanic individuals who smoke: Development, feasibility, engagement, and clinical outcomes

Introduction

Hispanic/Latinx (hereafter Hispanic) individuals who smoke have challenges in quitting and a disproportionate risk of smoking-related health problems when compared to the general population. The smoking inequalities among the Hispanic population are influenced by limited treatment access and chronic stress exposure (e.g., racial/ethnic discrimination). The present study sought to culturally adapt and initially test a novel, Spanish-language mobile intervention entitled Impacto. Impacto helps address aversive psychosomatic stress (e.g., bodily symptoms, negative affect states) that can maintain smoking by targeting individual differences in anxiety sensitivity during the cessation process.

Methods

The current study utilized a single-arm open-label pilot trial of an integrated, anxiety sensitivity and smoking cessation Spanish language mobile health application for the Android platform, Impacto. Participants were 30 adults who engaged in daily combustible cigarette use (females n = 15, M_age = 40.2 years, SD = 11.1). The study evaluated effects of Impacto on 7-day point-prevalence smoking abstinence, cigarettes smoked per day, and anxiety sensitivity and examined feasibility, acceptability, and engagement.

Results

Results indicated that Impacto had a positive impact on smoking abstinence with over half of the sample (65.4 %) reporting smoking abstinence 4-weeks post-quit. Moreover, rates of cigarettes smoked per day and anxiety sensitivity levels significantly decreased from baseline through 4-weeks post-quit. High rates of feasibility, acceptability, and engagement were also observed.

Conclusions

Impacto represents a promising new smoking cessation intervention for Hispanic individuals with elevated psychosomatic symptoms who smoke.