The RealU online cessation intervention for college smokers: a randomized controlled trial
Lawrence C An1, Colleen Klatt, Cheryl L Perry
1University of Minnesota, Department of Internal Medicine, 717 Delaware Street, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. lcan@umn.edu
Preventive Medicine
|June 21, 2008
Summary
Online smoking cessation interventions incorporating personalized messages and peer support significantly increased 30-day abstinence rates among college students. This digital health approach offers a promising strategy for tobacco control in young adults.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Digital Health Interventions
- Tobacco Control
Background:
- College students represent a demographic with significant smoking prevalence.
- Effective, scalable interventions are needed to address tobacco use in this population.
- Online platforms offer unique opportunities for targeted health messaging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of an online smoking cessation intervention for college smokers.
- To assess the impact of personalized messages and peer support on smoking abstinence.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 517 college smokers.
- Intervention group received weekly incentives to access an online magazine with personalized smoking cessation messages and peer support.
- Outcomes measured via self-report and carbon monoxide (CO) breath testing at multiple time points.
Main Results:
- The intervention group demonstrated a significantly higher 30-day abstinence rate at week 30 (41% vs. 23%, p<0.001).
- Carbon monoxide (CO) breath testing confirmed low rates of self-report under-reporting.
- No significant difference was observed in 6-month prolonged abstinence.
Conclusions:
- Integrating personalized smoking cessation messages into an online college life magazine effectively increased short-term abstinence.
- This digital intervention shows promise for tobacco cessation among college students.
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