Smartphone Ownership Among US Adult Cigarette Smokers: 2014 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) Data
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional survey analysis of national survey data
OpenAlex W2752757658 · doi:10.2196/jmir.7953
What was done
Researchers analyzed data from the 2014 Health Information National Trends Survey 4 (HINTS 4, Cycle 4), a mailed survey using two-stage stratified random sampling of noninstitutionalized US adults. The analysis evaluated 479 current adult cigarette smokers with complete smartphone data to assess associations between smartphone ownership and demographics, smoking behaviors, health status, health behaviors, healthcare access, and technology use.
What was found
A weighted 63.8% (248/479) of smokers owned a smartphone. Ownership was significantly higher among smokers who were younger (P<.001), employed (P=.002), never married (P=.002), and had higher education (P=.002) and income (P<.001). Smartphone owners did not differ from non-owners in smoking frequency, recent quit attempts, or future plans to quit, but reported stronger belief in the benefits of quitting (P=.04). Owners also reported higher fruit and vegetable intake (P=.03), more past-year efforts to exercise (P=.001) and lose weight (P=.02), better physical and mental health across several domains, and higher technology use for health reasons. No differences were found in healthcare access or utilization.
Why it matters
Smartphone cessation interventions can reach most US smokers, but digital-only approaches risk exacerbating health disparities among older, lower-income smokers who have greater disease burden and lower access to mobile devices.
Limits
The study used a cross-sectional design and self-reported survey data from 2014. The sample size of smokers was modest (n=479), and actual engagement with or efficacy of cessation apps was not evaluated.
Cited by
- context The majority of Americans first owned a smartphone in the year 2014.