The Role of Engagement in a Tailored Web-Based Smoking Cessation Program: Randomized Controlled Trial
2008

Engagement in a Web-Based Smoking Cessation Program

Sample size: 1866 publication 10 minutes Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Victor J. Strecher, Jennifer McClure, Gwen Alexander, Bibhas Chakraborty, Vijay Nair, Janine Konkel, Sarah Greene, Mick Couper, Carola Carlier, Cheryl Wiese, Roderick Little, Cynthia Pomerleau, Ovide Pomerleau

Primary Institution: University of Michigan School of Public Health

Hypothesis

Does engagement with program content predict long-term smoking cessation outcomes?

Conclusion

Engagement with a Web-based smoking cessation program is associated with higher rates of quitting smoking.

Supporting Evidence

  • Participants who opened more sections of the program had a higher likelihood of quitting smoking.
  • Younger, male, and less educated participants were more likely to disengage from the program.
  • More personalized and tailored messages increased engagement with the program.

Takeaway

The more sections of a smoking cessation program people opened online, the more likely they were to quit smoking.

Methodology

A randomized trial was conducted with 1866 smokers to examine the efficacy of different treatment components in a Web-based smoking cessation intervention.

Potential Biases

Participants were primarily from two health maintenance organizations, limiting generalizability.

Limitations

The measure of engagement was rudimentary and may not capture the quality or time spent on the program.

Participant Demographics

Participants were aged 21 to 70, with a mean age of 46.3 years, and included 59.5% women.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.001

Confidence Interval

OR = 2.26; CI = 1.72-2.97

Statistical Significance

p<0.001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.2196/jmir.1002

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