Efficacy of a Web-Based Computer-Tailored Smoking Prevention Intervention for Dutch Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Trial

S. de Josselin de Jong*, M. Candel, D. Segaar, H.P. Cremers, H. de Vries

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background: Preventing smoking initiation among adolescents is crucial to reducing tobacco-caused death and disease. This study focuses on the effectiveness of a Web-based computer-tailored smoking prevention intervention aimed at adolescents.

Objective: The intent of the study was to describe the intervention characteristics and to show the effectiveness and results of a randomized controlled trial. We hypothesized that the intervention would prevent smoking initiation among Dutch secondary school students aged 10-20 years and would have the largest smoking prevention effect among the age cohort of 14-16 years, as smoking uptake in that period is highest.

Methods: The intervention consisted of a questionnaire and fully automated computer-tailored feedback on intention to start smoking and motivational determinants. A total of 89 secondary schools were recruited via postal mail and randomized into either the computer-tailored intervention condition or the control condition. Participants had to complete a Web-based questionnaire at baseline and at 6-month follow-up. Data on smoking initiation were collected from 897 students from these schools. To identify intervention effects, multilevel logistic regression analyses were conducted using multiple imputation.

Results: Smoking initiation among students aged 10-20 years was borderline significantly lower in the experimental condition as compared to the control condition 6 months after baseline (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.05-1.21, P=.09). Additional analyses of the data for the 14-16 year age group showed a significant effect, with 11.5% (24/209) of the students in the control condition reporting initiation compared to 5.7% (10/176) in the experimental condition (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.05-1.02, P=.05). No moderation effects were found regarding gender and educational level.

Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that computer-tailored smoking prevention programs are a promising way of preventing smoking initiation among adolescents for at least 6 months, in particular among the age cohort of 14-16 years. Further research is needed to focus on long-term effects.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere82
Pages (from-to)107-118
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Medical Internet Research
Volume16
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2014

Keywords

  • computer tailoring
  • Web-based intervention
  • Internet
  • smoking prevention
  • smoking initiation
  • adolescents
  • randomized controlled trial
  • FRAMEWORK APPROACH ESFA
  • HEALTH INTERVENTIONS
  • CESSATION CURRICULUM
  • PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY
  • INTERNET
  • EDUCATION
  • PROGRAM
  • COMMUNICATION
  • BEHAVIORS
  • EXPOSURE

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