Table 1.
Example Prompts Recommending Low Effort Self-Regulatory Strategies
| Cigarettes are available | Cigarettes not available | |
|---|---|---|
| Negative affect present | - Leave the situation until the temptation to smoke has passed or call a supportive friend. Talking about what is stressful can help you feel better. - Believe in yourself – you can do it! If you are feeling stressed or down, be sure to avoid being around cigarettes right now. - When you are feeling stressed, leave if cigarettes are available or drink a tall glass of water. You’re in control! |
- Quitting can be tough, so try to relax. Listen to calming music or call or text a family member or friend to lean on. - By quitting you may feel you’ve lost part of yourself – use this time to start a new healthy habit like walking 10 minutes a day. You deserve success! - Occupy your mind by going out for fresh air, or remind yourself that you are capable of getting through the ups and downs that come with quitting. |
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| Negative affect not present | - Instead of picking up a cigarette, do something new with your hands. An idea is to play a game on your phone! - If there are cigarettes nearby then leave, even if for a minute, or remind yourself that you stopped smoking for your health. Stay strong, even if it’s tough! - You got this! If cigarettes are around remind yourself that smoking is not an option and you chose not to smoke! |
- Be proud of the work you’re doing to change your life! Create a list of rewards you can give yourself for staying quit. - Surround yourself with people who give you positive support for the work you’re doing, or think of how much money you will save by not buying cigarettes. - Ask a friend to help you start healthy routines that don’t include smoking. Believe in yourself - you can do it! |
Note: This table contains 12 examples of prompts from a library of more than 180 possible prompts developed by our team. The prompts are tailored based on the participant’s response to the brief 2-questions survey delivered prior to each micro-randomization. If the participant does not complete the brief 2-question survey, the prompt will recommend more general strategies such as those described in the lower-right quadrant of the table.