Introduction: The Achilles’ Heel of Smoking Cessation
Smoking remains one of the most significant preventable causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. While evidence-based treatments—including pharmacotherapy and behavioral counseling—have improved the success rates of initial quit attempts, long-term maintenance remains elusive. The majority of individuals who successfully quit smoking will experience a relapse within the first few weeks or months. This phenomenon, often referred to as the Achilles’ heel of tobacco control, highlights a critical gap in current clinical practice: the lack of accessible, real-time support during the high-risk period following the initial cessation. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions have emerged as a promising frontier to address this gap, offering the potential for scalable, cost-effective, and personalized support delivered directly to the user’s pocket.
