WHO USES QUIDDY AND WHY? A CROSS-SECTIONAL MIXED METHODS STUDY OF THE SMOKING CESSATION APP FOR YOUNG ADULTS IN THE NETHERLANDS

Abstract

The high rates of smoking young adults in the Netherlands led to the creation of the smoking cessation app Quiddy. In the current cross-sectional study, the buddy-system feature of the app was researched using mixed methods, since young adults have indicated that they want to quit with help of a peer. 94 participants were included in the quantitative analysis of the user data (aged 16-25). A logistic regression analysis was conducted to test to which extent the use of the buddy-system is determined by characteristics of the users. Furthermore, 6 previously conducted interviews with app users were analyzed, and an additional 3 interviews were conducted and analyzed to supplement the quantitative analysis. No significant quantitative results were found, suggesting that there was no relation between app user characteristics (age, number of cigarettes, motivation for smoking cessation, gender) and the use of the buddy-system. Qualitative results include overall positivity about the app. However, there were mixed opinions about the buddy-system feature. Resulting in the conclusions that it should be improved by matching buddies based on level of activity and lowering the threshold of adding a buddy. Limitations, implications and suggestions for future research were discussed. Keywords: smoking cessation, young adults, Quiddy, application, buddy-system