Population-level effects of automated smoking cessation help programs: a randomized controlled trial
Ron Borland1, James Balmford, Peter Benda
1VicHealth Centre for Tobacco Control, The Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ron.borland@cancervic.org.au
Addiction (Abingdon, England)
|September 22, 2012
Summary
Automated internet and mobile phone smoking cessation programs showed a non-significant increase in sustained abstinence rates. However, participants who actively used these digital interventions demonstrated significantly higher quit rates.
Area of Science:
- Digital Health
- Behavioral Science
- Public Health Interventions
Background:
- Smoking cessation remains a significant public health challenge.
- Automated digital interventions offer scalable solutions for widespread reach.
- Previous research indicates varying effectiveness of internet and mobile-based cessation tools.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the population-level impact of offering automated digital smoking cessation interventions.
- To compare the effectiveness of internet-delivered programs, text-messaging programs, and their integration.
- To assess intervention uptake and sustained abstinence rates among smokers.
Main Methods:
- A pragmatic randomized controlled trial involving 3530 smokers.
- Five arms: minimal intervention control, internet program (QuitCoach), text-messaging program (onQ), combined program, and choice of program.
- Primary outcome: self-reported 6-month sustained abstinence at 7 months post-recruitment.
Main Results:
- Uptake of interventions was low (42.5%).
- Combined intervention groups showed a non-significant increase in abstinence compared to control (OR=1.48).
- Significant abstinence increase observed among active intervention users (OR=1.95), particularly those who sought self-help resources.
Conclusions:
- Offering automated digital smoking cessation interventions resulted in non-significantly higher odds of sustained abstinence.
- Active engagement with digital interventions significantly improved quit rates.
- Recruitment method influenced success rates, with self-motivated individuals showing better outcomes.
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