Interactivity in computer interventions: It’s today’s buzzword, offering the allure of delivering more relevant and motivational content to program users. But does interactivity actually increase or decrease a program’s effectiveness? Given the ability to choose which portions of a video-based intervention to view, will what participants actually choose to see result in behavior change? This presentation examines the patterns of use in an interactive, video-based smoking cessation program delivered via the Internet. Smokers aged 18 and over were recruited from worksites across the United States and through general population advertisements for a clinical trial to evaluate the program’s efficacy in promoting smoking cessation. Interactivity is a key feature of this intervention, and users are offered multiple paths and options throughout the program. Depending on the user’s choices, they can see information and advice on nicotine replacement products and Zyban, the benefits of stopping smoking, barriers to smoking cessation, cravings to smoke, and environmental cues to smoke. Rather than viewing the entire program in a linear fashion (i.e., the typical videotape-type presentation), users have the choice of viewing only the topics of most interest to them. Program user logs store each user’s responses to program queries and a record of each screen viewed. An analysis of the patterns of program use by participants in this clinical trial will be presented, with a discussion of implications for the development of interactive program content and structure. See www.quitcigs.org
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to: 1) identify the features and benefits of an interactive, non-linear health intervention and 2) describe the general pattern of program use by participants in the clinical trial described and translate these into general principles of interactive program design.
Keywords: Smoking Cessation, Interactive
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Oregon Center for Applied Science, Inc.
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employed by ORCAS