iCanQuit India

Name: iCanQuit India
Author: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

CLINICAL GRADE

Validated in clinical trials

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App Summary

iCanQuit India is a quit smoking app for adults in India, developed by scientists at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. It is based on acceptance and commitment therapy, which teaches acceptance of smoking triggers rather than avoidance of them. In a randomized clinical trial of 2,415 US adults, 24.1% of those assigned iCanQuit reported no smoking in the previous 30 days at 12 months, compared with 18.7% of those assigned the National Cancer Institute's QuitGuide app (odds ratio 1.40), counting everyone lost to follow-up as still smoking. That trial tested the US edition; the India edition has not yet been tested for quit rates in an Indian population.

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Detailed Description

Functionality & Mechanism

iCanQuit India is a mobile application designed to support adults in India with smoking cessation. Developed by scientists at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, the app provides guidance on maintaining motivation, managing withdrawal symptoms and cravings, and preventing relapse. Its design is based on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), which teaches people to accept and move through the triggers that prompt smoking rather than try to avoid them.

Evidence & Research Context

The underlying iCanQuit program was tested in a randomized clinical trial of 2,415 US adult smokers (Bricker et al., JAMA Internal Medicine, 2020; NCT02724462). In the trial’s primary complete-case analysis, 28.2% of iCanQuit users who completed the 12-month survey reported 30 days without smoking (293 of 1,040), compared with 21.1% of those assigned the National Cancer Institute’s QuitGuide app (225 of 1,067); odds ratio 1.49, 95% CI 1.22-1.83.
A more conservative analysis counting every participant lost to follow-up as still smoking gave 24.1% versus 18.7% across the full randomized groups (odds ratio 1.40, 95% CI 1.14-1.71), so the advantage held under both approaches. Smoking status was self-reported.
That trial was conducted in the United States. iCanQuit India is a separate, culturally adapted release, and its effect on quit rates has not been tested in an Indian population.
A 2025 quasi-experimental study assessed how values-based social media advertising could disseminate the app across seven Indian metropolitan areas, measuring advertising reach, app installs, and cost-effectiveness rather than smoking cessation.

Intended Use & Scope

iCanQuit India is intended for use by adults in India who are seeking to quit smoking. The app provides tools and strategies for smoking cessation support. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment, and users should consult healthcare providers for personalized guidance or if experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms.

Studies & Publications

3 publications

Peer-reviewed research associated with this app.

Evaluation Study

Population-Level Dissemination of a Smoking Cessation Smartphone App: Quasi-Experimental Comparison of Values-Based Messages in Social Media Advertisements

Bricker et al. (2025) · JMIR mHealth and uHealth

Compared social media advertisements used to promote the app to adults in seven Indian cities; did not measure quit rates.

Background Cigarette smoking is prevalent in many countries worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), presenting an urgent public health challenge. Disseminating freely available smoking cessation treatments that effectively decrease cigarette smoking globally is urgently needed. Objective Identify the highest impact and most cost-effective values-based social media advertisements to disseminate our smoking cessation

RCT

Efficacy of Smartphone Applications for Smoking Cessation: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Bricker et al. (2020) · JAMA Internal Medicine

Adults using this app were more likely than those using the National Cancer Institute's QuitGuide app to report no smoking in the prior month at 12 months.

Importance Smoking is a leading cause of premature death globally. Smartphone applications for smoking cessation are ubiquitous and address barriers to accessing traditional treatments, yet there is limited evidence for their efficacy. Objective To determine the efficacy of a smartphone application for smoking cessation based on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) vs a National Cancer Institute smoking cessation application based on US

In the Media

New Smartphone App Very Effective at Helping Smokers Quit

iCanQuit is a quit smoking app developed by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center scientists, based on acceptance and commitment therapy. A clinical trial found it nearly 1.5 times more effective than the National Cancer Institute's QuitGuide in helping adult smokers quit after 12 months. The app is available for Android and iOS devices, with passcodes obtainable by emailing iCanQuit@fredhutch.org.

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