Web- and computer-based quit smoking programs help

CHICAGO – May 25, 2009 – Smokers who use online or other computer-based smoking cessation programs are 50 percent more successful in quitting smoking than people who used other quit strategies, according to a new analysis of multiple studies of these programs. 

Led by Dr. Seung-Kwon Myung, who started the study at the University of California, Berkeley, and is now at the National Cancer Center, and Dr. Goyang, South Korea, researchers analyzed data compiled from 22 previously published studies. Their report appears today in the Archives of Internal Medicine. 

"Our findings imply that there is sufficient evidence to support the use of a Web- or computer-based smoking cessation program for adult smokers," the authors conclude. "As global Web users continue to increase, Web-based smoking cessation programs could become a promising new strategy that is easily accessible for smokers worldwide." 

The researchers identified 22 previous studies published between 1989 and 2008 that evaluated Web- and computer-based smoking programs by randomly assigning people to such programs compared to other cessation programs. The trials included a total of 29,549 participants, 16,050 of whom were randomly assigned to a web- or computer-based programs and 13,499 to comparison groups. 

Ten studies used supplemental interventions, such as counseling, classroom lessons, nicotine replacement gum or patches, medication or telephone quit-lines—whereas 12 studies used web- or computer-based programs alone. 

When the results of the trials were pooled and analyzed, individuals assigned to use computer- or web-based programs were about 1.5 times more likely to quit smoking than those assigned to comparison groups. After 10 months, 11.7 percent of those using the computer-based programs remained off smoking compared to 7 percent of those using other means of quitting. At 12 months 9.9 percent of those in the computer-based groups remained smoke-free vs. 5.7 percent of those on other treatments. The effects of these programs were similar to those of counseling interventions, the authors note. 

"The stand-alone interventions had a significant effect on smoking cessation as well as on those that had supplemental interventions," the authors write. "However, compared with adults, these programs did not significantly increase the abstinence rate in adolescent populations."