title: "After all--it doesn't kill you to quit smoking": an explorative analysis of the blog in a smoking cessation intervention.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A growing body of literature demonstrates internet-based smoking cessation interventions as a promising aid in helping people quit smoking. However, the underlying mechanisms of how these interventions influence the cessation process are still relatively unknown. Several studies have indicated blogging as a potential source in providing social support to users of internet-based smoking cessation interventions and thereby enhance their change of succeeding in quitting.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study aimed to investigate themes discussed on a blog in an internet-based smoking cessation intervention. In addition, we examined if blogging could provide social support for people in a smoking cessation process.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was based on messages posted from 1 January 2012 to 29 February 2012 on the blog of the internet-based smoking cessation programme DDSP, operated by the Danish Cancer Society. Messages were coded according to themes using Grounded Theory, and additionally data about bloggers were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 1663 messages were posted within the 2-month period, and we identified 16 themes. The majority of messages contained personal stories or experiences (53%), provided emotional support (34%) or congratulated other users (17%). The messages were found capable of supplying social support to members on the blog. In addition, we found that only a minority of users who viewed the blog participated actively in posting messages, and only a minority was highly active bloggers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The blog offers a unique platform for informal conversations about quitting smoking and is important in providing social support to people in a smoking cessation process.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Public Health, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Caroline Lyng
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dalum
authors.forename: Lise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Skov-Ettrup
authors.forename: Janne Schurmann
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Tolstrup
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D057218:Blogging; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015397:Program Evaluation; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D012944:Social Support; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Blog; internet-based smoking cessation intervention; smoking cessation; social forum; social media; social support