title: Population-level effects of automated smoking cessation help programs: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the population impact of offering automated smoking cessation interventions via the internet and/or by mobile phone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pragmatic randomized controlled trial with five conditions: offer of (i) minimal intervention control; (ii) QuitCoach personalized tailored internet-delivered advice program; (iii) onQ, an interactive automated text-messaging program; (iv) an integration of both QuitCoach and onQ; and (v) a choice of either alone or the combined program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Australia, via a mix of internet and telephone contacts.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 3530 smokers or recent quitters recruited from those interested in quitting, and seeking self-help resources (n = 1335) or cold-contacted from internet panels (n = 2195).
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome was self-report of 6 months sustained abstinence at 7 months post-recruitment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 42.5% of those offered one of the interventions took it up to a minimal level. The intervention groups combined had a non-significantly higher 6-month sustained abstinence rate than the control [odds ratio (OR) = 1.48; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.98-2.24] (missing cases treated as smokers), with no differences between the interventions. Among those who used an intervention, there was a significant overall increase in abstinence (OR = 1.95; CI: 1.04-3.67), but not clearly so when analysing only cases with reported outcomes. Success rates were greater among those recruited after seeking information compared to those cold-contacted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Smokers interested in quitting who were assigned randomly to an offer of either the QuitCoach internet-based support program and/or the interactive automated text-messaging program had non-significantly greater odds of quitting for at least 6 months than those randomized to an offer of a simple information website.
authors.affiliation: VicHealth Centre for Tobacco Control, The Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ron.borland@cancervic.org.au
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Borland
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Balmford
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Benda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D040421:Cell Phone; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D012944:Social Support; D013021:South Australia; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014739:Victoria; D055815:Young Adult