This month we are taking a closer look at the recently updated MyQuitBuddy, an app to help people quit smoking or vaping, providing support to overcome cravings, track symptoms and progress, and link with an online community.

My QuitBuddy was developed by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care to help people become and stay smoke- or vape-free. The free app has recently undergone redevelopment to modernise the app and include support to quit vaping. The app provides helpful tips to overcome cravings and tracking systems to chart users’ progress, and health facts on the impacts of smoking and vaping. Further updates to the app are expected on a rolling basis.

Through the easy-to-use dashboard, users can track their progress including the amount of money saved, as well as access distraction tools, goal reminders, and links to support people. My QuitBuddy also sends notifications that can be set of difficult times, and a moderated online community.

The My QuitBuddy app includes many customisable features including:

• Choose to ‘Quit Now’, ‘Continue Quitting’, or prepare to ‘Quit Later’.
• Set goals and understand motivations to quit.
• Nominate friends or family who can help in tough times.
• View progress, including a count of every day, hour and minute the user stays vape- or smoke-free and how much money they’ve saved.
• Nominate ‘Danger Times’ for My QuitBuddy to send notifications to stay on track.
• Engage in a range of distractions to occupy users’ mind and hands through any moments of craving.
• Read helpful messages from other people who are quitting with My QuitBuddy and leave their own messages for others to read.

My QuitBuddy is for anyone in Australia wanting to quit smoking and/or vaping.

My QuitBuddy offers personalised, in-the-moment support to help people through the hardest times during their quitting journey, with helpful tips and distractions to overcome cravings.

Health Practitioners can incorporate My QuitBuddy into their work with patients or clients seeking to quit smoking and/or vaping. The app can be incorporated into therapy to facilitate goal setting and track progress or used as a self-help resource for clients to use in their own time at their own pace. Additionally, the app can be used between sessions to provide support at high risk times and connection to community stories and encouragement.

The My QuitBuddy app is free to download.

My QuitBuddy is available to download for android and apple smartphone devices from the App Store and Google Play.

My QuitBuddy has been involved in a pilot trial to assess its feasibility and acceptability for smoking cessation. More information can be found here. It is currently in use in the Screen2Quit (S2Q) clinical trial in Queensland. More information can be found here.