Computerized direct mail to treat smokers who avoid treatment

Smoke, a computer program written in BASIC, uses interactive direct mail to assist smokers who do not wish to attend formal face-to-face smoking cessation therapy. The effectiveness of the program was evaluated in a yearlong study. Of 1044 smokers who expressed interest in smoking treatment, only 11.2% wished to participate in formal therapy. The rest received mail-based treatment. A total of 21.2% of the subjects who were assigned to the computerized direct mail group participated in this treatment. The abstinence rates of the participants in the computerized direct mail and face-to-face groups were similar. The results suggest that computerized direct mail could be a useful addition to smoking cessation campaigns.