title: Novel incentives and messaging in an online college smoking intervention.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of an online intervention targeting college smokers. The incentives involved discounted or free goods and services from businesses proximal to each campus.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 122 current smokers recruited from 2 Southeastern US universities. The intervention involved health behavior monitoring, targeted messaging, and incentives for healthy goods and services versus the American Cancer Society's Guide to Quitting Smoking online.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention achieved greater adherence and utilization (p's < .001). Overall, 55.6% learned about a local business through this program. At end-of-treatment, intervention participants less frequently attempted to quit (p = .02) but smoked fewer cigarettes/day (p = .05). Both groups demonstrated significant end-of-treatment cessation rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This intervention demonstrated feasibility and acceptability.
authors.affiliation: Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Atlanta, GA, USA. cjberg@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Carla J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.affiliation: Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stratton
authors.affiliation: Marketzero, LLC, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sokol
authors.affiliation: Marketzero, LLC, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santamaria
authors.affiliation: Georgia State University, Department of Respiratory Therapy, USA.
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bryant
authors.affiliation: 90 MP Design, Duluth, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Rolando
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000570:American Cancer Society; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D009862:Online Systems; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D015144:Southeastern United States; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D060145:Text Messaging; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult