Messaging with a counsellor and a supportive chatbot can help stop smokers relapse

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2026-01-21 03:00

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For people who are trying to quit smoking, mobile chat messaging with a counsellor and a supportive chatbot app can help prevent relapse by as much as 30%, according to international research. The study looked at almost 600 people who were receiving smoking cessation treatment, with 294 people given chat-based support with a live counsellor and access to a supportive chatbot via a messaging app. The control group of 296 people received 8 text messages on generic smoking cessation advice. After 6 months, people who received the counsellor and chatbot support were significantly more likely to be abstinent for longer, and had a lower relapse rate, the researchers say.