title: How to encourage smokers to participate in web-based computer-tailored smoking cessation programs: a comparison of different recruitment strategies.
abstract: The reach, retention and costs of four strategies aimed to recruit smokers for participation in a computer-tailored smoking cessation intervention was explored. The study was part of a randomized controlled trial whereby 832 respondents were randomized to three conditions. Smokers were invited by general practitioners (GPs), newspapers, Internet and other strategies (i.e. mailing organizations) to take part. ANOVA's/Chi-square tests explored sample differences. Logistic regression analyses investigated differences between the samples regarding retention and smoking behaviour. Smokers recruited via GPs (N = 144) had a lower educational level and suffered more from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease compared with respondents recruited via Internet (N = 307) (χ(2) = 11.554, df = 3, P = 0.009). Less motivated respondents recruited by GPs were more likely to return to study compared with the less motivated respondents recruited by 'other recruitment' strategies (χ(2) = 6.416, df = 3, P = 0.093). Highly addicted respondents recruited from newspapers (N = 213) were less likely to make a quit attempt compared with highly addicted respondents recruited by GPs (OR = 0.334, P = 0.035). Females from newspapers were less likely to remain abstinent compared with the GP sample (OR = 0.337, P = 0.005). Recruitment via GPs showed highest costs. Recruitment strategy influenced the type of smokers. Group differences were associated with different patterns of quitting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands, Department of Psychology, Open University of the Netherlands, P.O. 2960, 6419 AT Heerlen, The Netherlands, Department of Methodology and Statistics, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands and Department of Family Medicine, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Stanczyk
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bolman
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.forename: M J J M
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Candel
authors.forename: J W M
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Muris
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: de Vries
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009524:Newspapers as Topic; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018579:Patient Selection; D012737:Sex Factors; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology