Text-messaging programs for smoking cessation appear primarily to confer benefit by promoting improvements in the psychosocial processes related to quitting rather than through the use of extra-programmatic smoking cessation treatments and services, a recent study found. Adult daily smokers browsing the web for smoking cessation support (n=409) were randomized to receive smoking cessation support via Text2Quit vs smoking cessation material. Researchers found:

• Mediators accounted for 35% of the effect of Text2Quit on smoking cessation.
• Only psychosocial mechanisms had complete mediational paths, with increases in self-efficacy, quitting know-how, and the sense that someone cared, partially explaining the conferred benefit of Text2Quit.
• Use of outside resources, including treatments promoted explicitly by Text2Quit, ie, medication, quitline, treatments and resources not promoted by Text2Quit, ie, online forums, and self-help materials did not have complete mediational paths.