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Evidence
backs Web- and Computer-Based Stop-Smoking
Programs
Newswise — Available evidence supports the
use of online or other computer-based
smoking cessation programs for helping
adults quit smoking, according to a
meta-analysis of previously published
studies appearing in the May 25 issue of
Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the
JAMA/Archives journals.
“Smoking is the single greatest cause of
preventable disease and premature death,”
the authors write as background information
in the article. Currently recommended
smoking cessation strategies include
individual or group counseling, medications
and telephone quit-line counseling.
Seung-Kwon Myung, M.D., M.S., then at the
University of California, Berkeley, and now
at the National Cancer Center, Goyang, South
Korea, and colleagues identified 22
randomized controlled trials of Web- and
computer-based programs published between
1989 and 2008.
The trials included a total of 29,549
participants, 16,050 of whom were randomly
assigned to a computer-based program and
13,499 to a control group.
Ten studies used supplemental
interventions—such as counseling, classroom
lessons, nicotine replacement gum or
patches, medication or quitlines—whereas 12
studies used Web- or computer-based programs
alone.
When the results of the trials were pooled
and analyzed, individuals assigned to use
computer- or Web-based programs were about
1.5 times more likely to quit smoking than
those assigned to control groups.
Abstinence rates were higher among
intervention groups than control groups
after six to 10 months (11.7 percent vs. 7
percent) and 12 months (9.9 percent vs. 5.7
percent) of follow-up.
The effects of these programs were similar
to those of counseling interventions, the
authors note.
“The stand-alone interventions had a
significant effect on smoking cessation as
well as on those that had supplemental
interventions,” the authors write.
“However, compared with adults, these
programs did not significantly increase the
abstinence rate in adolescent populations.”
“Our findings imply that there is sufficient
evidence to support the use of a Web- or
computer-based smoking cessation program for
adult smokers,” the authors conclude.
“As global Web users continue to increase,
Web-based smoking cessation programs could
become a promising new strategy that is
easily accessible for smokers worldwide.”
Editor’s Note: Dr. Myung and co-authors Dr.
McDonnell, Dr. Kazinets and Dr. Moskowitz
received funding from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. Please see
the article for additional information,
including other authors, author
contributions and affiliations, financial
disclosures, funding and support, etc
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