Smokefree.gov: 10 years of disseminating evidence-based cessation interventions

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.