281216
Smokefree.gov: 10 years of disseminating evidence-based cessation interventions
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Shani Taylor, MHS,
Marketing, Interactive, and Technology Division, ICF International, Rockville, MD
Yvonne Hunt, PhD, MPH,
Tobacco Control Research Branch, Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
Erik Augustson, PhD, MPH,
Tobacco Control Research Branch, Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD
Background: For 10 years, the Tobacco Control Research Branch (TCRB) of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has been developing and disseminating web- and mobile-based interventions to provide smokers who want to quit with access to evidence-based smoking cessation information and on demand support. Methods: The NCI has translated and disseminated evidence-based cessation interventions to various populations through the development of four websites, four smartphone applications, nine social media channels and a text messaging program designed for three distinct audiences. Collectively, these resources are known as the Smokefree Program and have rolled out to the public between 2003 and 2012. Results: To date, the Smokefree resources have collectively received nearly 9 million hits to the websites and nearly 20,000 subscriptions to the SmokefreeTXT program. In addition, 32,307 smokers have downloaded the mobile applications. Smokefree has also been able to engage with 5,025 smokers on Facebook and 13,908 smokers via Twitter. Preliminary data will also be presented from a large, randomized control trial conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the smokefree.gov and women.smokefree.gov websites, specifically. Conclusions: Web- and mobile-based cessation interventions have the ability to reach large audiences and provide engaging and tailored interpersonal communication for its users and consumers. The basic premise of the Smokefree Program is both replicable and scalable and could be used to help change a multitude of health behaviors.
Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Communication and informatics
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Learning Objectives:
Identify the existing smoking cessation resources available by the Smokefree Program to the public
Evaluate the efficacy of smokefree.gov and women.smokefree.gov websites
Describe lessons learned by the Smokefree Program after 10 years of web- and mobile-based cessation support and outreach
Keyword(s): Tobacco, Technology
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I currently serve as the project manager of the National Cancer Institute's web and mobile based cessation resources. I have a Master of Health Science (MHS) in Health Education and Health Communication and have four years of professional experience in health marketing and technology-mediated health behavior change.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
