Grant: Operating Grant: CCS/CIHR Action Grants

Need for project Varenicline is the most effective smoking cessation medication, but most people do not take it as directed. Education and facilitating problem solving improves adherence, but implementing these interventions are costly. This project will co-develop a chatbot and examine if is an effective strategy to help users’ adhere to varenicline (by proving provide education and problem –solving support). If successful, the chatbot would increase the chances of quitting smoking, and thus prevent cancer. Goal of project The long-term goal of this project is to reduce the incidence of cancer at the population level by decreasing the smoking prevalence. We will use technology to help people adhere to their varenicline regimen so that they can increase their chances to quit smoking. Specifically, we will co-create, build and evaluate a theory based, patient centered chatbot aimed at helping people adhere to their varenicline regimen. Project description In this study, we will: 1. Co-create and develop a theory-based chatbot to increase adherence to varenicline. 2. Evaluate the chatbot in terms of: • Implementation outcomes - adoption, acceptability, feasibility, and appropriateness. • Medication adherence and smoking cessation success. 3. Track recruitment, retention, and outcomes in order to determine the feasibility and optimal design of a future randomized controlled trial. Future impact This project has the potential to mitigate the risk of developing cancers by developing a chatbot that will help people who smoke adhere to their smoking cessation treatment. The proposed project will advance knowledge in using chatbots for medication adherence. If successful, the chatbot could be made widely available at a low cost, and be deployed worldwide. With at least one life saved from tobacco-related death for every two smokers who quit, the potential patient-level impact will extend well beyond the study.