title: Technology-based support via telephone or web: a systematic review of the effects on smoking, alcohol use and gambling.
abstract: A systematic review of the literature on telephone or internet-based support for smoking, alcohol use or gambling was performed. Studies were included if they met the following criteria: The design being a randomized control trail (RCT), focused on effects of telephone or web based interventions, focused on pure telephone or internet-based self-help, provided information on alcohol or tobacco consumption, or gambling behavior, as an outcome, had a follow-up period of at least 3months, and included adults. Seventy-four relevant studies were found; 36 addressed the effect of internet interventions on alcohol consumption, 21 on smoking and 1 on gambling, 12 the effect of helplines on smoking, 2 on alcohol consumption, and 2 on gambling. Telephone helplines can have an effect on tobacco smoking, but there is no evidence of the effects for alcohol use or gambling. There are some positive findings regarding internet-based support for heavy alcohol use among U.S. college students. However, evidence on the effects of internet-based support for smoking, alcohol use or gambling are to a large extent inconsistent.
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institute, Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Social Medicine, SE-171 29 Stockholm, Sweden; Centre of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, Stockholm County Council.
authors.forename: Anna-Karin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Danielsson
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institute, Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Social Medicine, SE-171 29 Stockholm, Sweden; Centre of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, Stockholm County Council.
authors.forename: Anna-Karin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institute, Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Social Medicine, SE-171 29 Stockholm, Sweden; Centre of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, Stockholm County Council.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Allebeck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000628:therapy*; D005715:Gambling / Q000628:therapy*; D015438:Health Behavior; D015277:Hotlines / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012907:Smoking / Q000628:therapy*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D013672:Technology; D013689:Telephone; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States
keywords: Alcohol; Gambling; Internet; Telephone; Tobacco