Title: An analysis of randomised controlled trials that utilise internet based smoking reduction/cessation programs

Authors: Gayle Prybutok

Addresses: College of Public Affairs and Community Service, University of North Texas, 410 Avenue C Suite 302B, Denton, Texas, 76201, USA

Abstract: Consumer health informatics (CHI) uses Internet based systems to deliver health education/intervention programs to the public. Smoking reduction/cessation efforts improve public health and reduce healthcare costs. Scientists believe that smoking avoidance/cessation before age 30 can prevent over 90% of smoking related cancers. Approaches to reducing smoking related deaths include encouraging current smokers to stop and preventing new people from smoking. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Clinical Evidence Topic 188, impact of CHI applications, prompted an analysis of a defined group of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that examined Internet smoking reduction/cessation interventions using the techniques defined for Evidence Based Practice. A search of the University EBSCO Host databases, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and EMBASE identified 13 RCTs summarising the outcomes of 17 internet based smoking reduction/cessation programs between 2006 and 2015. These programs were shown to be promising tools in the smoking reduction/cessation effort.

Keywords: health education; social media; smoking reduction; smoking cessation; consumer health informatics; CHI; randomised controlled trials; RCTs; internet; health intervention; public health; healthcare costs.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEH.2015.075356

International Journal of Electronic Healthcare, 2015 Vol.8 No.2/3/4, pp.202 - 219

Received: 12 Dec 2015
Accepted: 10 Jan 2016
Published online: 15 Mar 2016 *

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