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document
Comparing two web-based smoking cessation programs : randomized controlled trial . BACKGROUND Smoking cessation remains a significant public health problem . Innovative interventions that use the Internet have begun to emerge that offer great promise in reaching large numbers of participants and encouraging widespread behavior change . To date , the relatively few controlled trials of Web-based smoking cessation programs have been limited by short follow-up intervals . OBJECTIVE We describe the 6-month follow-up results of a randomized controlled trial in which participants recruited online were randomly assigned to either a Web-based smoking cessation program ( Quit Smoking Network ; QSN ) or a Web-based exercise enhancement program ( Active Lives ) adapted somewhat to encourage smoking cessation . METHODS The study was a two-arm randomized controlled trial that compared two Web-based smoking cessation programs : ( 1 ) the QSN intervention condition presented cognitive-behavioral strategies , and ( 2 ) the Active Lives control condition provided participants with guidance in developing a physical activity program to assist them with quitting . The QSN condition provided smoking cessation information and behavior change strategies while the Active Lives condition provided participants with physical activity recommendations and goal setting . The QSN condition was designed to be more engaging ( eg , it included multimedia components ) and to present much greater content than is typically found in smoking cessation programs . RESULTS Contrary to our hypotheses , no between-condition differences in smoking abstinence were found at 3- and 6-month follow-up assessments . While participants in the QSN intervention condition spent more time than controls visiting the online program , the median number of 1.0 visit in each condition and the substantial attrition ( 60.8 % at the 6-month follow-up ) indicate that participants were not as engaged as we had expected . CONCLUSIONS Contrary to our hypothesis , our test of two Web-based smoking cessation conditions , an intervention and an attention placebo control , failed to show differences at 3- and 6-month assessments . We explored possible reasons for this finding , including limited engagement of participants and simplifying program content and architecture . Future research needs to address methods to improve participant engagement in online smoking cessation programs . Possible approaches in this regard can include new informed consent procedures that better explain the roles and responsibilities of being a research participant , new program designs that add more vitality ( changing content from visit to visit ) , and new types of reminders pushed out to participants to encourage return visits . Simplifying program content through a combination of enhanced tailoring and information architecture also merits further research attention .
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Intervention_Educational
randomly assigned to either a Web-based smoking cessation program ( Quit Smoking Network ; QSN ) or a Web-based exercise enhancement program ( Active Lives ) adapted somewhat to encourage smoking cessation .
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Intervention_Educational
( 1 ) the QSN intervention condition presented cognitive-behavioral strategies ,
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Intervention_Educational
the Active Lives control condition provided participants with guidance in developing a physical activity program to assist them with quitting
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Intervention_Educational
QSN condition
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Intervention_Educational
Active Lives condition
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Intervention_Educational
The QSN condition was designed to be more engaging ( eg , it included multimedia components ) and to present much greater content than is typically found in smoking cessation programs .
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Outcome_Mental
smoking cessation
37983
Outcome_Mental
Smoking cessation
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Outcome_Mental
smoking cessation
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Outcome_Mental
smoking cessation
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Outcome_Mental
smoking cessation
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Outcome_Mental
smoking abstinence
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Outcome_Mental
smoking cessation
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Participant_Condition
web-based smoking cessation programs :
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Participant_Sample-size
participants recruited online