ButtOut Louisville Text Messaging Tobacco Cessation Program

Text messaging has become the preferred method of communication for teenagers. A survey by Pew Research Center states one in three teens sends more than 100 texts per day. The study illustrates the indispensable role and how text messaging and mobile phones in general, play in the lives of today's teenagers. Teens are seldom without their cell phones and choose texting as a preferred method of communication. Smoking among adolescents is a prominent public health issue and more smoking cessation programs are needed to reverse this alarming trend. Barriers of time restraints, accessibility to students and cost of providing trained individuals to lead cessation classes within multiple schools are prohibitive. By utilizing cell phones for smoking cessation interventions, studies to date have shown an increase in short-term quit rates. The ButtOut tobacco cessation text messaging program was created to distribute accurate countdown, cessation, maintenance, and health information on demand 24/7. ButtOut promotes preparedness, self-efficacy, seek social support and perceived health benefits. In addition, this program recommends combining multiple tobacco cessation approaches (quit line, internet, and support groups) as adjunct services to increase youth success rates. This texting program utilizes a unique media campaign with social media and a nationally known spokesperson. Youth ambassadors apply tobacco education knowledge learned during trainings to educate other teens about the harmful effects of smoking. Follow-up data will be analyzed to access the effectiveness of the program.