A study of the most popular smoking cessation smartphone apps has found that very few actually adhere to key evidence-based practices shown to help smokers quit.
Researchers at the George Washington School of Public Health and Health Services conducted a study of the most downloaded cessation apps for iOS and Android and found out that smartphone apps may not give people the guidance they need to quit smoking, or recommend approved medications, Cnet reports.
According to associate professor Lorien C. Abroms, they enjoy a minimal level of regulation given that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is busy trying to stay on top of medical apps.
One in five deaths in the U.S. can be attributed to cigarettes, according to the Centers for Disease Control, amounting to roughly 440,000 deaths a year, the report added.