Smoking Rates In North America Could Be Reduced By New Computer Program
11/25/01
GENEVA, Switzerland, Nov. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study published on
Monday, reports that a personalized smoking cessation computer program can
increase a smoker's chance of quitting, even amongst smokers least likely to
quit. The program has the pot
The study, published in the November issue of the Archives of Internal
Medicine, aimed to assess the effectiveness of a computerised smoking
cessation program, amongst a general population of daily smokers.
The program, activated to produce a personalized response to a
questionnaire, achieved a smoking abstinence rate 2.6 times higher in the
intervention group than the control group. The program was even effective
amongst smokers resistant to change -- heavy smokers, adolescents and smokers
with a low motivation to quit.
The study, published in the November issue of the Archives of Internal
Medicine, aimed to assess the effectiveness of a computerised smoking
cessation program, amongst a general population of daily smokers.
The program, activated to produce a personalized response to a
questionnaire, achieved a smoking abstinence rate 2.6 times higher in the
intervention group than the control group. The program was even effective
amongst smokers resistant to change -- heavy smokers, adolescents and smokers
with a low motivation to quit.
Commenting on the study, lead investigator, Dr. Jean-Francois Etter,
University of Geneva said, "Traditional smoking cessation programs often
target a small number of motivated quitters leaving the majority of smokers
without support." He continued "A computer program which increases a smokers
chances of quitting and is accessible by a large proportion of the smoking
population has the potential to have a substantial impact on public health,
contributing to the prevention of smoking related diseases".
The computer program is now available free of charge at http://www.stop-tabac.ch.
In order to make it accessible to a wider audience of smokers the program is
available in English, French, Italian and Danish.
Commenting on the study, lead investigator, Dr. Jean-Francois Etter,
University of Geneva said, "Traditional smoking cessation programs often
target a small number of motivated quitters leaving the majority of smokers
without support." He continued "A computer program which increases a smokers
chances of quitting and is accessible by a large proportion of the smoking
population has the potential to have a substantial impact on public health,
contributing to the prevention of smoking related diseases".
The computer program is now available free of charge at http://www.stop-tabac.ch.
In order to make it accessible to a wider audience of smokers the program is
available in English, French, Italian and Danish.