Table 1.
Example Text Messages for the Intervention and Control Groups
| Day sent | Intervention group messages | Control group messages |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1(Pre-Quit)a | Congratulations! The hardest part—deciding to quit—is already behind you. Write down your quit date (insert day) and post it where you can see it every day. | Hi there! Welcome to the SMS USA project. We’re happy you’re here. We look forward to working with you! |
| Day 1(Pre-Quit) | The SMS USA program is like a recipe book to help you quit smoking. Not every text will work for you, but try each one before you judge—just to see! | These next several weeks we’re going to be working with you to improve your sleep and physical activity. Why? Because both will help you to quit smoking. |
| Day 2(Pre-Quit) | Write down a list of reasons why you want to quit smoking. Put the list in a place where you’ll see it every day. | How much sleep are you getting? Keep a log for the next week. Note when you go to bed, wake up; Have trouble going to sleep? Wake up in the middle of the night? |
| Day 2(Pre-Quit) | Want to connect with other people quitting in the SMS USA program? Hear about how they are getting ready to quit? Go to www.stopmysmoking/discuss | The Centers for Disease Control recommends adults get 30min of physical activity at least 5 days/week. Sound hard? Relax. We’ll figure it out together. |
| Day 3(Pre-Quit) | Got stress? Maybe it’s your cigarettes. In between cigarettes, your body goes through nicotine withdrawal and makes you feel stressed out and anxious. | Sleeping and exercising go hand-in-hand when you’re trying to quit smoking. You have more energy, you sleep better, and it gives you the strength to quit. |
| Day 15(Quit Day) | I bet you’re feeling cranky and annoyed right now. This is all normal. Just take a deep breath and get through the next 5min. | Each time you meet a sleep or physical activity goal, no matter how small, be sure to give yourself a reward. |
| Day 20(Early Quit) | Right now, you’re learning to quit. Just like learning to ride a bike or drive a car, it takes time. Before you know it, you’ll learn to be a nonsmoker too. | Quitting smoking is hard work. Sleeping well can help your body prepare for quitting physically and emotionally. |
| Day 31(Late Quit) | Encouragement from your friends and family might be starting to wane about now, but remember that they are probably still proud of you for quitting. | Regular exercise has a lot of benefits: Better sleep and relief from stress are just a couple. Remind yourself of YOUR reasons to make these life changes. |
Note. aExamples are mirror messages sent to the intervention and control groups, taken from five text messages each on Days 1–3, nine on Day 15, five on Day 15, and two on Day 31.