Characteristics of nurses who used the Internet-based nurses QuitNet for smoking cessation

Smoking among nurses is higher than other health care professionals but nurse-specific cessation programs are limited. Nurses QuitNet, launched in January 2004, provided an evidence-based online smoking cessation program for nurses and nursing students.

To describe Nurses QuitNet registrants and relationships among the demographic and smoking characteristics, program dissemination strategies, and site utilization patterns.

Cross-sectional study.

1,790 Nurses QuitNets registrants.

Demographics and smoking characteristics on the Nurses QuitNet intake questionnaire.

Most registrants were female (92.5%), 45-54 years old (34.3%), Caucasian (84.5%), and college graduates (57.5%). Over 68% smoked 10-20 cigarettes/day; 66.4% smoked within 30 min of waking. Half of those with previous quit attempts did not use evidence-based methods; 30% had not made a quit attempt in the past year. "Read-only" social support was the most frequently used Nurses Quitnet feature.

The Internet can be a viable option to support nurses' cessation and is available to accommodate their work schedules. The sample is similar to the general nursing population, except for higher levels of education. Efforts are needed to assist nurses struggling with nicotine addiction and disseminate cessation resources, particularly targeting nurses with the highest prevalence of current smoking, for example licensed practical nurses.