Volume : 7, Issue : 3, March - 2018

Please Stop: Nudging for smoking cessation

Sumit N Fogla

Abstract :

<p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Smoking cessation is a major issue in the society and requires several levels of interactions: between care givers, physicians, family members and the subjects themselves. Smoking cessation can prevent 39% of deaths annually. It can prevent a wide range of diseases, including lung and heart diseases, high blood pressure and a variety of cancers. However, the problem is at the root of motivating an individual from within to quit smoking. A general comment in the clinic is rarely effective. Pharmacological options are available, but they often do not derive the desired results. Recently, I came across a smartphone application, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Please Stop</i>. It is backed by a website, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">pleasequit.org</i>. The app was developed by a primary care physician, Dr. Nawal Singh Shekhawat, currently a hospitalist at Baptist Hospital Conway in the state of Arkansas. I became curious on the namesake and the woefully bland nature of the app. Why &ldquo;please&rdquo;? I reached out to Dr. Shekhawat to learn more on the underpinnings of the development of the app.<o:p></o:p></span></p>