Review of Online Help for Quitting Smoking
Author Information
Author(s): Beth C Bock, Amanda L Graham, Jessica A Whiteley, Jacqueline L Stoddard
Primary Institution: The Miriam Hospital
Hypothesis
Has the quality of smoking cessation websites improved since 2004?
Conclusion
The quality of treatment offered in Web-assisted tobacco interventions has improved since 2004, but significant improvements are still needed.
Supporting Evidence
- 74% of websites were excluded from the review due to not providing treatment.
- 69% of websites contained no inaccurate information.
- 26% of reviewed websites provided only minimal coverage of key treatment components.
- Significant improvements were noted in personalized advice and practical counseling.
Takeaway
This study looked at websites that help people quit smoking and found that while they are getting better, many still don't provide the best advice.
Methodology
PhD-level specialists reviewed smoking cessation websites for content quality and adherence to national guidelines.
Potential Biases
Some authors had prior consulting relationships with one of the reviewed websites.
Limitations
The review only included English-language websites and may not represent the quality of non-English sites.
Statistical Information
P-Value
.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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