QuitNet

Description:

QuitNet is a commercial site providing a range of tools to assist with smoking cessation. The site offers 1) advice about quitting smoking; 2) assistance in setting a quit date; 3) specialised assessment of motivation and nicotine dependence; 4) information tailored to each user based on smoking history, motivational readiness, and demographic characteristics; 5) practical counselling including problem solving and skills training designed to enhance self-efficacy; 6) tailored assistance in selecting and using smoking cessation pharmacotherapies; and 7) social support. The support aspects of the site include an online community where users can chat, send private messages, read personal stories and get support from peers and professionals. Most parts of the site can be accessed for free, but a fee-based premium membership option provides direct access to counselling staff, use of several additional tailored expert systems, and unlimited use of the social support system.

Service URL:
Agency Responsible:
HealthWays QuitNet, Inc..

Details

Format:
Website.
Intervention Type:
Educational (primarily educational material or psychoeducation).
Course Length:
Long (more than 5 modules).
Support Option:
Clinical support. Also provides lay support

Target Audience

Primary Category:
Smoking.
Target Audience:
Adult.
Languages:
English and Spanish.

Access

Fee:
Free. Free to access most areas of the site. A fee-based premium membership is also available, providing access to additional components
Access:
Open: With registration.
Contact Details:

info@healthways.com

Research evidence

Research Trials:
5
Research RCTs:
0
Outcome Summary:

QuitNet has been tested in a number of uncontrolled and controlled trials, though none of these trials included a 'no treatment' control. One large scale trial (4) with N=2005 compared the effectiveness of the QuitNet site to two other conditions: i) QuitNet in conjunction with proactive telephone counselling; and, ii) a static, information-only website composed of the content of QuitNet. The QuitNet site in conjunction with telephone counselling resulted in significantly higher quit rates than either the static site or normal QuitNet site. At 18 months, the 30-day multiple point prevalence abstinence rate across all follow-up intervals was 3.5% for the basic site, 4.5% for QuitNet, and 7.7% for QuiNet plus telephone counselling. 

A recent trial in help-seeking military veterans (5) compared the efficacy of QuitNet plus access to telehealth supported nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) against face to face specialised smoking cessation care (including access to NRT). No significant difference between groups was observed in 7 day abstinence at 3 and 12 month follow up. The observed rate of abstinence in the QuitNet group was 16.8% at 3 months.

A previous observational, uncontrolled study (3) reported a 6 month quit rate of 13.2% among QuitNet users. In an uncontrolled, workplace based study (2), 13% of users reported abstinence for 7 days or more at 12 month follow up. Using the site more often and using the social support functions were associated with higher quit rates. An initial evaluation of the program, in an uncontrolled study (1) with low response rate, reported a 7-day point prevalence abstinence rate of 7% at 3-month follow-up, and a 30-day point prevalence abstinence rate of 5.9%. 

Overall, this research shows that the QuitNet site might be effective in quitting smoking, but further research with a no-intervention control condition is needed.


Recommended rating, reviewer 1:

There is evidence that the site might work. More conclusive studies are needed.
Recommended rating, reviewer 2:

There is evidence that the site might work. More conclusive studies are needed.

Read more about Beacon's Smiley Rating System.

Research paper citations

Evidence:

(1) Cobb, N. K., Graham, A. L., Bock, B. C., Papandonatos, G., & Abrams, D. B. (2005). Initial evaluation of a real-world internet smoking cessation system. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 7, 207-216.

(2) Graham, A. L., Cobb, N. K., Raymond, L., Sill, S., & Young, J. (2007). Effectiveness of an internet-based worksite smoking cessation intervention at 12 months. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 49(8), 821-828.

(3) Saul, J. E., et al. (2007). Impact of a statewide internet-based tobacco cessation intervention. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 9(3), e28.

(4) Graham, A. L., Cobb, N. K., Papandonatos, G. D., Moreno, J. L., Kang, H., Tinkelman, D. G., Bock, B. C., Niaura, R. S., Abrams, D. B. (2011). A randomized trial of Internet and telephone treatment for smoking cessation. Archives of Internal Medicine, 171(1), 46-53.

(5) Calhoun, P. S., Datta, S., Olsen, M., Smith, V. A., Moore, S. D., Hair, L. P., ... & Bastian, L. A. (2016). Comparative effectiveness of an internet-based smoking cessation intervention versus clinic-based specialty care for veterans. Journal of substance abuse treatment, 69, 19-27.

Additional References:

Graham, A. L., Papandonatos, G. D., Cobb, C. O., Cobb, N. K., Niaura, R. S., Abrams, D. B., & Tinkelman, D. G. (2014). Internet and telephone treatment for smoking cessation: mediators and moderators of short-term abstinence. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 17(3), 299-308.

Graham, A. L., Papandonatos, G. D., Erar, B., & Stanton, C. A. (2015). Use of an online smoking cessation community promotes abstinence: Results of propensity score weighting. Health Psychology, 34(S), 1286.

Cobb, C. O., Niaura, R. S., Donaldson, E. A., & Graham, A. L. (2014). Quit now? Quit soon? Quit when you’re ready? Insights about target quit dates for smoking cessation from an online quit date tool. Journal of medical Internet research, 16(2).

Cobb, C. O., & Graham, A. L. (2014). Use of non-assigned interventions in a randomized trial of internet and telephone treatment for smoking cessation. nicotine & tobacco research, 16(10), 1289-1297.

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Last Updated: June 14th 2018