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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2014 Sep;38(5):668-80.
doi: 10.5993/AJHB.38.5.4.

Novel incentives and messaging in an online college smoking intervention

Carla J Berg  1 , Erin Stratton  2 , Michael Sokol  3 , Andrew Santamaria  3 , Lawrence Bryant  4 , Rolando Rodriguez  5
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Novel incentives and messaging in an online college smoking intervention

Carla J Berg et al. Am J Health Behav. 2014 Sep.

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of an online intervention targeting college smokers. The incentives involved discounted or free goods and services from businesses proximal to each campus.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 122 current smokers recruited from 2 Southeastern US universities. The intervention involved health behavior monitoring, targeted messaging, and incentives for healthy goods and services versus the American Cancer Society's Guide to Quitting Smoking online.

Results: The intervention achieved greater adherence and utilization (p's < .001). Overall, 55.6% learned about a local business through this program. At end-of-treatment, intervention participants less frequently attempted to quit (p = .02) but smoked fewer cigarettes/day (p = .05). Both groups demonstrated significant end-of-treatment cessation rates.

Conclusions: This intervention demonstrated feasibility and acceptability.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of Participant Recruitment and Enrollment Note. * Missing data accounts for the difference between overall N surveyed and smoking prevalence estimates.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Adherence Rates Over the 6-Week period (ie, 12 Total Modules) for the Control and Intervention Conditions
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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