Digitized Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Based intervention for vaping cessation in youth (ACT-TO-STOP)

Introduction: Vaping behavior is becoming very common among adolescents and young adults globally. While health risks are numerous, only a few interventions target vaping cessation in this population. Traditional treatments are underutilized by youth as they often fail to engage users. Using innovative and digital approaches is necessary to increase engagement in treatment among this population. The current project aims to assess the usability, engagement, and effectiveness of a mobile intervention based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to promote vaping cessation in adolescents and young adults aged 13-29 in Cyprus. The overarching goal of this project is to contribute to the “Tobacco Endgame” strategy in Cyprus and reduce unhealthy behaviors such as vaping through digital interventions. Methods: This project employs a co-development approach that incorporates user feedback and expert opinions, to create a culturally appropriate, gamified application. The pilot phase will include 20 participants to test usability. Afterward, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted, with participants (n=150) being randomly allocated to either the experimental or the control group. The outcomes will include readiness to quit, 24-hour quit attempts, and 30-day abstinence at six months post-randomization. Results: Results will outline the procedural steps, the co-development process, and the final application. Conclusions: The findings and conclusions will be discussed.