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Online cessation programs
– 6/23/05
Q:
My state is interested in the possibility
of an online cessation program such as QuitNet. Right now,
we are just contemplating it and wanted to get as much information
and feedback from other states as we could before moving forward.
We were wondering which states are using an online/web-based
cessation program? Have you had positive feedback and results?
Is it cost-effective, time-intensive? Does it require a lot
of media/promotion in order to get enrollees? Approximately
how many individuals enroll, complete the program, and are
successful at quitting smoking? Does the online program coordinate
with the quit line? If so, how? Would you recommend an online
cessation program?
A:
- Colorado: we use the Quitnet and have
for several years. We have always been extremely pleased
with the provider - Boston University – and consider
this a "low maintenance/high satisfaction" contract.
Working closely with QuitNet, we have implemented several
on-line promotional efforts with very good results and very,
very inexpensively especially compared to TV ads. Some of
this on-line promotion information was just presented at
the national conference and on the last CDC media call.
We coordinate our quitline and the QuitNet extensively.
The QuitNet is listed as a primary resource in the self-help
materials provided through the quitline. We often present
both options in our paid media placement and on our internet
splash pages. Each program "makes referrals" to
the other program. Our QuitNet users are some of the most
grateful people you will ever meet and many have become
active advocates for the tobacco control program overall,
especially vocal during difficult fiscal times.
Outcome data has been limited to self reports (and shows
very good results). There are several research projects
and more formal evaluation either underway or recently completed
and I am sure QuitNet would provide to interested parties.
Because of the ability to "track" users, click
through, etc. on the internet, one can get an amazing amount
of information on where folks are seeing the ads, what ads
attract what users, what users are more likely to enroll,
etc. This helps in lots of ways and is not nearly as possible
with other forms of advertising or cessation services.
- Massachusetts: Vendors interested in
online cessation programs are welcome to take a look at
www.trytostop.org,
an interactive website for smokers developed in 1999-2002
by the Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program. The website
receives substantial activity even without promotion.. We
have a lot of historical information on the utilzation of
this website. The website is not just a website; there is
a database application attached which stores information/retreival
for the self-directed QuitWizard quitting tool. This is
a stage-based interactive quitting tool with individualized
quit planning.
- South Carolina: SC plans to get our state-based
quitline fully operational with a new vendor before we pursue
promoting an online quit program. However, we would be interested
in someone producing a synopsis review of all online cessation
programs with the type of data that are being sought by
this state's question. Has anyone already compiled this??
- NAQC: We don’t have anything like
that compiled, although there is a section on Colorado’s
QuitNet experience in our recently published resource guide
(www.naquitline.org).
I know that the evidence base for online cessation programs
is very, very limited, although some results are appearing.
However, it is important to note that many of the evaluations
are being conducted by the vendors at this point…I
don’t believe we have any peer-reviewed evidence to
speak of.
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