Integrating science and design in the development of Detour: A mobile intervention for youth smoking cessation

Abstract

Digital smoking cessation interventions for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) often either lack a strong evidence base or fail to engage their intended users. Integrating psychological science with design-based methods offers a promising route to interventions, yet the processes behind such integration are rarely reported in detail. In this paper, we describe the development of Detour, a mobile smoking cessation intervention for AYAs, redesigned from an earlier app (HitnRun) using the Bloombox Toolkit to integrate science and design throughout. We describe how six psychological mechanisms including smoking cue devaluation and delay discounting were translated into intervention components. We used an iterative, interdisciplinary process involving behavioural scientists, app designers, and an ongoing youth advisory board. Additionally, we included over 380 AYAs across focus groups, play tests, and qualitative questionnaires. We then reflect on our experience integrating design and science for intervention development and share practical challenges encountered, including budgeting for interdisciplinary teams, retaining youth participants, and regulatory delays. By reporting these processes and challenges transparently, we aim to support other researchers in designing digital health interventions that are both scientifically grounded and engaging for their target users.

Smoking cessation outcomes by employment status and education attainment after intensive smoking cessation intervention
Nawal Fayyaz Roga, Mie Sylow Liljendahl, Berit Lillienthal Heitmann +1
Frontiers in Public Health4 Nov 2026Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textEpidemiology & public healthCrossrefDOAJ
A randomised controlled trial of Detour: a multi-component app-based intervention for youth smoking cessation
Suhaavi Kochhar, Hanneke Scholten, Maartje Luijten
PsyArXiv21 Sep 2026PreprintCC BY 4.0Full textPsychiatry & mental healthOSF
Family based screening and smoking cessation for COPD detection: Hybrid cross-sectional and single-arm, multicenter intervention study.
Carlos Rábade-Castedo, Carlota Rodríguez-García, Paula Lado-Argibay +17
Tobacco induced diseases22 Oct 2026Peer-reviewedCC BYFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMCPMC
Development of an implementation strategy for a workplace smoking cessation program with financial incentives using Implementation Mapping
Floor A. van den Brand, Tessa Magnée, Onno C. P. van Schayck +1
PLOS One18 Sep 2026Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textEpidemiology & public healthPLOS
Association between duration of smoking cessation and depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional study
Kanon Abe, Sho Nakakubo, Takehiko Doi +4
Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine3 Oct 2026Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textPhysiologyJ-STAGE

Cite

BibTeX RIS

BibTeX

@misc{kochhar2026integrating,
  title = {{Integrating science and design in the development of Detour: A mobile intervention for youth smoking cessation}},
  author = {Suhaavi Kochhar and Maartje Luijten and Ken Koontz and Hanneke Scholten},
  howpublished = {PsyArXiv},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.31234/osf.io/zvpxc_v1},
  url = {https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/zvpxc_v1/},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}

RIS

TY  - UNPB
TI  - Integrating science and design in the development of Detour: A mobile intervention for youth smoking cessation
AU  - Suhaavi Kochhar
AU  - Maartje Luijten
AU  - Ken Koontz
AU  - Hanneke Scholten
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/16
PB  - PsyArXiv
DO  - 10.31234/osf.io/zvpxc_v1
UR  - https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/zvpxc_v1/
AB  - Digital smoking cessation interventions for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) often either lack a strong evidence base or fail to engage their intended users. Integrating psychological science with design-based methods offers a promising route to interventions, yet the processes behind such integration are rarely reported in detail. In this paper, we describe the development of Detour, a mobile smoking cessation intervention for AYAs, redesigned from an earlier app (HitnRun) using the Bloombox Toolkit to integrate science and design throughout. We describe how six psychological mechanisms including smoking cue devaluation and delay discounting were translated into intervention components. We used an iterative, interdisciplinary process involving behavioural scientists, app designers, and an ongoing youth advisory board. Additionally, we included over 380 AYAs across focus groups, play tests, and qualitative questionnaires. We then reflect on our experience integrating design and science for intervention development and share practical challenges encountered, including budgeting for interdisciplinary teams, retaining youth participants, and regulatory delays. By reporting these processes and challenges transparently, we aim to support other researchers in designing digital health interventions that are both scientifically grounded and engaging for their target users.
ER  -

Abstract

Related

Cite