Acceptability and outcome of an Internet-based smoking cessation programme

Abstract

Setting: Three district health boards (DHBs), organisations that govern public hospitals and services in Auckland, New Zealand.

Objective: To evaluate a commercial web-based smoking cessation programme (Smokestop).

Design: Smokestop was offered free of charge to 126 staff members of three Auckland DHBs who wanted to stop smoking. Following a 30 minute face-to-face enrolment meeting, participants were able to log on and use the programme. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) was available at no cost. All participants who used the programme at least once were followed up at 1, 3 and 6 months after first logging on for assessment of smoking status by self-report verified by carbon monoxide (CO) in expired breath.

Results: Of 104 participants who logged onto the programme, 12 (12%) achieved 6-month continuous CO-validated abstinence. Participant feedback was largely positive: 46% agreed that the programme had assisted them and 74% stated they would recommend it to other smokers. The concomitant use of NRT was seen as an important component.

Conclusions: The results suggest that this internet-based smoking cessation programme is an acceptable method to deliver behavioural support to people who want help in stopping smoking, and that it shows promise as a smoking cessation intervention.