Nash, M.C., Vickerman, A.K., Kellogg, S.E., & Zbikowski, M.S. (2015). Utilization of a web-based vs. integrated phone/web cessation program among 140,000 tobacco users: An evaluation across 10 free state quitlines. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 17(2), e36. PMID: 25673013.
Quitlines are increasingly referring tobacco users to web-based programs to provide support for smoking cessation. This observational study examined the user characteristics and utilization patterns of 141,429 tobacco users in ten states who accessed quitline services. Tobacco users in these states could choose to use both the phone and web portions of the cessation program (Phone/Web), or could choose to only enroll in the web program (Web-Only). The Web-Only program helped users make a quit plan, track their progress, and connect with other individuals trying to quit. In addition to the web-based program, the Phone/Web program had coaches who called users and assisted with the creation of a quit plan. While 80% of tobacco users selected the Phone/Web program, only 20% selected the Web-Only program. Users in both cessation programs were most likely to use the tobacco tracker, cost savings calculator, and quit plan behaviors services available on the web program. The Web-Only users were younger, more educated, healthier, and had higher household incomes than users selecting the Phone/Web program. Web-Only users were also less likely to receive nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) through the state, and were less likely to return to the web program after their initial log-in.