Grant: Project Grant

In Canada, over 1.5 million women smoke cigarettes, putting them at higher risk for serious health conditions like heart disease, lung disease, and cancer. Smoking is responsible for 15% of all female deaths. However, women face unique challenges when trying to quit. Compared to men, they often smoke to cope with stress or to manage their weight, making it harder for them to stop. To improve women's success in quitting, we need treatments that are designed specifically for them. This study aims to create an innovative, AI-powered chatbot that helps women quit smoking by addressing their specific challenges. This digital tool will act like a supportive coach, using a proven counseling method called motivational interviewing, which encourages change through non-judgmental conversation. A key feature of this chatbot will be real-life quit stories from former women smokers, offering relatable advice and inspiration. The study has three main steps: 1. Creating inspiring quit stories. We will invite 10 women who have successfully quit smoking to share their experiences, highlighting challenges like stress and weight concerns and how they overcame them. 2. Building the AI chatbot. These stories will be integrated into an existing AI-powered smoking cessation chatbot, creating a gender-informed support tool tailored to women. 3. Testing the chatbot. Women who want to quit smoking will use the chatbot, and we will evaluate how well it helps increase their motivation and readiness to quit. By designing a personalized, digital support tool, this research aims to empower women in their journey to quit smoking. If successful, this approach could be expanded to help even more women overcome their smoking habits, improving their health and well-being.