Iman Elfeddali*, Maastricht University, School for Public Health and Primary Care (Caphri), Maastricht, Netherlands Catherine Bolman, Open University of the Netherlands, Heerlen, Netherlands Math Candel, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands Reinout Wiers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands Hein de Vries*, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands Track: Research Presentation Topic: Public (e-)health, population health technologies, surveillance Presentation Type: Oral presentation Submission Type: Single Presentation Building: Mermaid Room: Room 1 - Newgate Date: 2013-09-23 02:00 PM – 03:30 PM Last modified: 2013-09-25

If you are the presenter of this abstract (or if you cite this abstract in a talk or on a poster), please show the QR code in your slide or poster (QR code contains this URL).

Background. Web-based computer-tailored approaches have the potential to be successful in supporting smoking cessation. However, the potential effects of such approaches for relapse prevention and the value of incorporating action planning strategies to effectively prevent smoking relapse have not been fully explored. The Stay Quit for You (SQ4U) study compared two Web-based computer-tailored smoking relapse prevention programs with different types of planning strategies versus a control group. Objectives. To assess the efficacy of two Web-based computer-tailored programs in preventing smoking relapse compared with a control group. The action planning (AP) program provided tailored feedback at baseline and invited respondents to do 6 preparatory and coping planning assignments (the first 3 assignments prior to quit date and the final 3 assignments after quit date). The action planning plus (AP+) program was an extended version of the AP program that also provided tailored feedback at 11 time points after the quit attempt. Respondents in the control group only filled out questionnaires. The study also assessed possible dose–response relationships between abstinence and adherence to the programs. Methods. The study was a randomized controlled trial with three conditions: the control group, the AP program, and the AP+ program. Respondents were daily smokers (N = 2031), aged 18 to 65 years, who were motivated and willing to quit smoking within 1 month. The primary outcome was self-reported continued abstinence 12 months after baseline. Logistic regression analyses were conducted using three samples: (1) all respondents as randomly assigned, (2) a modified sample that excluded respondents who did not make a quit attempt in conformance with the program protocol, and (3) a minimum dose sample that also excluded respondents who did not adhere to at least one of the intervention elements. Observed case analyses and conservative analyses (considering dropouts at follow-up as relapsers) were conducted. Results. In the observed case analysis of the randomized sample, abstinence rates were 22% (45/202) in the control group versus 33% (63/190) in the AP program and 31% (53/174) in the AP+ program. The AP program (odds ratio 1.95, P = .005) and the AP+ program (odds ratio 1.61, P = .049) were significantly more effective than the control condition. In the conservative analysis of the randomized sample, abstinence rates were 7% (45/636) in the control group versus 9% (63/698) in the AP program and 8% (53/697) in the AP+ program: the AP and AP+ programs were no longer significantly more effective than the control condition. Abstinence rates and effects further differed per sample. Moreover, the results suggest a dose–response relationship between abstinence and the number of intervention elements completed by the respondents. Conclusion. Abstinence rates and effects differed per sample and per analytic strategy (observed case or conservative) used precluding unequivocal conclusions. The observed case analyses suggest that Web-based computer-tailored programs combined with planning strategy assignments and feedback after the quit attempt can be effective in preventing relapse 12 months after baseline. However, two of the three conservative analyses conducted do not support this suggestion. Since the study was subject to high study drop-out rates (72.1%) that hindered drawing firm conclusions, improvements of the SQ4U-program aimed at preventing study dropout at follow-up measurements are required. Finally, more research is needed to assess the optimum intervention dose since adherence to the intervention seems critical for effectiveness.