Intelligent M-Health-CBT combined technology for an enhanced smoking cessation management system using data mining techniques with a case study in Saudi Arabia

Smoking has become one of the major global health concerns. Though there are various awareness activities being undertaken, the prevalence of smoking across the world is increasing at alarming levels. However, the extent of this increase varies among different countries. Even in culturally rich countries where smoking is considered as antagonistic behaviour both religiously and culturally, like Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of smoking is increasing at alarming levels. As smoking is mostly a behavioural aspect bundled with other factors, CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) integrated with m-health technologies represents a good strategy towards smoking cessation. This study focuses on developing a mobile smoking cessation management system - SMOKE MIND - using CBT intervention, and assessing its impact on achieving smoking cessation. This study uses mixed methods approach, where different methods are used at different stages of the research. Based on the systematic reviews and other literature reviewed, a questionnaire-based survey is conducted to assess the requirements of smokers in Saudi Arabia regarding the system for smoking cessation. The system developed uses CO readings of smokers, entered daily by participants through the mobile application, and assesses their improvement. Additionally, smokers enter CBT data if their CO readings are high, also through the mobile application. Based on these readings and CBT data, physicians recommend various activities and send motivational messages. The system is trailed for four weeks with an intervention group, who had access to the system, and a control group who did not. At the end of the study, another survey is conducted for evaluating the usability aspects of the SMOKE MIND system. The results achieved at the end of the study in evaluating the SMOKE MIND System reflect significant improvements in the participants in quitting smoking, and high satisfaction levels of the participants using the system. The values of p in both one-talied (0.0061) and two tailed (0.01) t-test are