Using Online Resources to Help People Quit Smoking
Author Information
Author(s): Lawrence C An, Barbara A Schillo, Jessie E Saul, Ann H Wendling, Colleen M Klatt, Carla J Berg, Jasjit S Ahulwalia, Annette M Kavanaugh, Matthew Christenson, Michael G Luxenberg
Primary Institution: University of Minnesota
Hypothesis
How does the use of specific website features influence smoking cessation rates?
Conclusion
Using interactive quitting tools and one-to-one messaging was associated with higher rates of quitting among users of quitplan.com.
Supporting Evidence
- 77% of users utilized interactive quit planning tools.
- 9.7% of participants reported abstinence at 6 months.
- Use of one-to-one messaging was associated with higher odds of abstinence.
- Engagement with online community features was low among participants.
Takeaway
This study found that people who used special online tools to help them quit smoking were more likely to succeed in quitting.
Methodology
A cohort study evaluating quitplan.com users with follow-up surveys to assess smoking abstinence.
Potential Biases
Selection bias may affect the results due to non-randomized design.
Limitations
The study is observational and may not generalize to all smokers; low engagement with some website features may limit findings.
Participant Demographics
Participants were mostly female, average age 38, with a majority having some college education and health insurance.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.083
Confidence Interval
95% CI 7.3% - 12.1%
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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