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Randomized Controlled Trial of an Interactive Internet Smoking Cessation Program with Long-Term Follow-up

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Background

Internet programs for smoking cessation are widely available but few controlled studies demonstrate long-term efficacy.

Purpose

To determine the 13-month effectiveness of an Internet program presenting a set sequence of interactive steps, and the role of depressed affect.

Methods

In a randomized controlled trial sponsored by the American Cancer Society, a treatment condition (n = 1,106) was compared to a control site (n = 1,047).

Results

More treatment condition participants were abstinent (30-day point prevalence) than control site participants (12.9% vs. 10.1%, p < .05) at 13 months. This effect was greater among participants not reporting depressed affect (15.0% vs. 10.1%, p < .01). Among smokers who reported depressed affect, there was no difference in abstinence between the treatment and control conditions.

Conclusions

Data support the long-term efficacy of an Internet intervention for cessation modeled on a structured, in-person treatment approach, especially for participants not experiencing daily depressed affect.

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Authors note

Drs. Seidman, Goldband. and Katkin sold the SmokeClinic program in August, 2005 and are no longer affiliated with it, or any subsequent versions of it, available on the Internet.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Columbia University, New York, USA

    Daniel F. Seidman Ph.D. & Richard P. Sloan Ph.D.

  2. American Cancer Society, Atlanta, USA

    J. Lee Westmaas Ph.D., Vance Rabius Ph.D., K. Joanne Pike M.A. & Dawn Wiatrek Ph.D.

  3. Stanford Center on Longevity, Stanford, USA

    Steve Goldband Ph.D.

  4. State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, USA

    Edward S. Katkin Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Daniel F. Seidman Ph.D.
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  2. J. Lee Westmaas Ph.D.
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  3. Steve Goldband Ph.D.
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  4. Vance Rabius Ph.D.
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  5. Edward S. Katkin Ph.D.
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  6. K. Joanne Pike M.A.
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  7. Dawn Wiatrek Ph.D.
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  8. Richard P. Sloan Ph.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel F. Seidman Ph.D..

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Seidman, D.F., Westmaas, J.L., Goldband, S. et al. Randomized Controlled Trial of an Interactive Internet Smoking Cessation Program with Long-Term Follow-up. ann. behav. med. 39, 48–60 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-010-9167-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-010-9167-7

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