The Effect of Web-Based Support as an Adjunct to a Self-Help Smoking Cessation Program

For the past quarter century, the public has been educated and warned about the dangers of smoking, and both smokers and health researchers have been in search of cost-effective, smoking cessation programs that will lead to long-term cessation. This study used a randomized experimental design to investigate the effectiveness of adding Web-based support materials to a nationally sponsored self-help smoking intervention. There was no significant increase in abstinence rates nor progression through the stages of change by those participants who had access to the Web site. However, there were some overall significant trends that suggested these self-help interventions were successful at decreasing daily rates of smoking and nicotine dependency, as well as tended to encourage repeated quit attempts. Although Web-based supports did not appear to increase the effectiveness of the nationally sponsored self-help intervention, this study demonstrated overall 12 week follow-up abstinence rates of 30-32%--greater than what might be expected, given average success rates of other self-help interventions. This study also supports the notion that women may face additional barriers to smoking cessation. Limitations and implications for future research are discussed.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of North Texas

Year dc:date

2002

Author dc:creator

• Johs-Artisensi, Jennifer Lynn

Contributors dc:contributor

• McGill, Jerry
• Lambert, Paul
• Marshall, Linda L.
• Williamson, David Allen

• Smoking cessation.
• abstinence rates
• Web-Based Support
• support
• stages of change
• quit smoking

Statement dc:rights

• Use restricted to UNT Community
• Copyright
• Johs-Artisensi, Jennifer Lynn
• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

oclc: 50682995
https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3180/
ark: ark:/67531/metadc3180

OAI identifier oai:identifier

info:ark/67531/metadc3180