Participants

This study aimed to recruit a racially and ethnically diverse sample of predominantly low-income adult cigarette smokers who were interested in quitting smoking and lived in Greater Atlanta, Georgia. Inclusion criteria were the following: ages 18-65 years; able to speak, read and write in English; smoking at least 5 cigarettes per day; expired carbon monoxide >6 ppm; motivated to quit smoking within 30 days; and at least sixth-grade health literacy (Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine) [32]. Exclusion criteria were as follows: contraindication for nicotine patches, which were provided to them during the study; problematic substance use (Severity of Dependence Scale score >4) [33,34] or a positive response on at least 2 of the 5 Patient Health Questionnaire Alcohol Abuse/Dependence Scale items [35]; clinically significant depressive symptoms (a 2-item Patient Health Questionnaire score of >3 [36,37]; self-reported diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder or the use of antipsychotic medications; and pregnancy or lactation. Individuals currently using tobacco cessation medications and regular (at least weekly) users of tobacco products other than cigarettes were also excluded, although participants were not excluded for the use of e-cigarettes. Individuals did not have to own a mobile phone to participate; they were provided the choice of using their own mobile phone or the one provided to them during the study. This study was approved by the institutional review board of Georgia State University ({"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"H19243","term_id":"885483","term_text":"H19243"}}H19243), and all participants provided written informed consent. This pilot feasibility study was funded by the US National Institutes of Health and is not considered a clinical trial in accordance with the National Institutes of Health’s definition [38].