For many decades Tobacco consumption has become normal in Europesomething that has been around for centuries and hasn't changed until recently. However, smoking remains one of the deadliest predictable acts. In fact, in our country the percentage of daily smokers fell from 33.1% to 25.8% over the last two yearsaccording to the Survey on Alcohol and Other Drugs in Europe. This is a significant decrease, but it means that one in four people aged 15 to 64 smoke tobacco daily. And people who smoke occasionally are not taken into account. But ambition is lacking.
The problems this causes are significant enough that European health ministers have called for bans on smoking and vaping on terraces, swimming pools, parks and bus stops. A total ban on the sale of tobacco is not envisagedbetting more on the increase in prices and the limitations of its use. Europe still leads in tobacco consumption in its country, which is becoming rare in other countries.
But research aimed at minimizing the use of this legal drug is still underway, and many institutes and organizations are looking for more cutting-edge ways to minimize the impact of tamapo or limit its use. New help is coming for smokers who want to quit. This time it is about an application that is not used on our mobile, but on our smart watchand it warns us of what we are smoking. It was developed by the University of Bristol and aims to make us aware of the tobacco we smoke. This idea of the importance of a conscious habit is essential in actions such as smoking, because Most smokers admit that they often do it unconsciously.without actively thinking about lighting another cigarette.
Watch better than on mobile
A study published in the journal JMIR Formative Research analyzed the behavior of a smartwatch app designed specifically to monitor smoking. According to this study Being aware of this at all times could significantly increase the success rate. of those who are trying to quit smoking.
The key is in the use of sensors equipped with smart watches count the number of cigarettes smoked, but also the number of movements made when taking a puff. Obviously, for this, the watch must be on the same hand as the one used for smoking.
Smart watch with app installed
When the application recognizes these movements, it sends a message to the usercoinciding with the times when he was going to carry out the action of smoking. According to the study, 18 participants who wanted to quit smoking They used smartwatches with WearOS, compatible with Android appswith this new application installed for two weeks. Two-thirds of trial participants viewed using the app on their smartwatches as a beneficial tool in their attempt to quit smoking.
According to patients, smart watch intervention on their smoking increased their smoking awarenesswhich made them think more about their habits and increased their motivation to quit. This is essential since many smokers are not aware of how much they smoke and often do so out of instinct.
One of the keys to the application is that it is independent of the mobile phone, so it does not depend on where the mobile phone is, whether or not there is coverage, whether the Bluetooth pairing is working or the phone is running out of battery. battery. Obviously Using the watch means having to pay attention to its chargeas happens in any device of this type.
The danger of slipping
Chris Stone, a researcher at Bristol Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group and the Integrated Cancer Epidemiology Program (ICEP), welcomed this approach because “for those trying to quit smoking, experiencing a slip can be a critical moment which often leads to a complete relapse.
In addition, using smart watches is a positive thing because they are popularand does not involve the use of new devices. And it's right to receive a message of support just when they're tempted to smoke [lo que] “It adds a layer of personalization that could make all the difference.”
El recibir mensajes útiles justo cuando la persona corre el riesgo de sucumbir al impulso puede suponer la diferencia entre el éxito o el fracaso en el intento de dejar de fumar. Y no hay que minimizar a importancia de que el uso de estos relojes no implica que los usuarios deban hacer nada más allá de llevarlos encima, algo que muchos ya hacían.
Pero aún queda mucho por hacer. Alizée Froguel, directora de políticas de prevención de Cancer Research UK, indicaba que “si bien esta investigación destaca el potencial de los relojes inteligentes como un recurso valioso para dejar de fumar, es fundamental realizar más estudios para comprender plenamente su eficacia”. En el futuro habrá más investigaciones en esta línea, apoyándose en relojes inteligentes para facilitar a los fumadores dejar su habito.
