1. Evaluation of Smokefree.gov, a National Web-Assisted Tobacco Intervention
Andrea L. Frydl, BS, CHES; Erik M. Augustson PhD MPH; Ami L. Hurd MPH; Jacqueline L. Stoddard, PhD
Frydl BS Augustson, PhD, Hurd, Stoddard
Background Results Results, continued
Advantages of WATIs: Demographic Variables P-values SF.gov-specific Findings, All Visitors 2008 (%) 2004 (%) P-value
2008 (%) 2004 (%) Where did you find out about the website n= 1,674 n= 1,272
• Able to reach large audiences
Gender* n = 971 n = 1,272 Search engine* 43.8 24.1
• Able to make changes quickly and cost effectively Link from another website* 17.0 58.2
Female 68.7 54.1
• Able to have interactive design & features Male 31.3 45.9 Friend or Family 2.6 2.7
• Able to conduct anonymous evaluation Age* n = 968 n = 1,259 Health care provider** 3.6 1.7
Under 24 17.7 14.5 Colleague/Co-worker 2.3 2.8
Advertisement 7.0 6.0
25 – 50 59.4 68.7
WATIs Are: Have you ever visited a website other than this website?* n= 1,674 n= 1,272
50+ 22.8 16.9 * p < 0.001
• An effective smoking cessation tool, as various RCTs Education Level** n = 971 n = 1,272 ** p = 0.002
Yes 29.5 38.4
show Less than HS 9.2 8.7
No 70.5 61.6
How does this site compare to other websites* n = 494 n = 488 * p<0.001
• Improved cessation rates when used in conjunction HS Degree/GED 16.2 20.8
Not as good as other websites 21.9 4.9 **p=0.002
More than HS 74.7 70.5
with other evidence-based interventions and treatments
evidence based As good as other websites 68.4
68 4 64.3
64 3
Smoking Status* n = 1,525 n = 1,272
Better than other websites 9.7 30.7
Current 64.8 81.5
Need to: How do you most prefer to receive health information?* n= 985 n= 1,163
Former 22.8 10.9
Web-based, internet 33.9 29.7
• Determine whether WATI is reaching intended Never 12.5 7.5
Text messaging 2.7 1.1
Smoking Behavior, Smokers
audience E-mail 33.2 35.9
Cigarettes smoked per day* n = 981 n = 1,030
• Routinely evaluate WATI to ensure effectiveness E-documents that can be printed 9.6 8.3
1-10 29.6 19.8 Print document that can be ordered online 7.7 4.7
• Assess customer satisfaction and suggestions for 11-20 47.4 50.2 Telephone 2.8 1.0
improvement >20 23.0 30.0 * p < 0.001 Face-to-face 9.9 19.3
Quit attempts** n = 976 n = 957 ** p = 0.047
Methods and Procedure None 12.1 13.0 Discussion
<5 54.5 58.5
• Anonymous follow-up customer satisfaction survey • SF.gov is reaching people with low to moderate levels of nicotine
5-10 25.2 23.1
administered online in September 2008 with over >10 8.2 5.4 dependence at approximately middle age, thus reducing the public
1,600 surveys collected. Cessation Method n = 1,217 n = 1,176 health burden of tobacco addiction.
Telephone quit line** 3.5 4.8
Cessation class or support group*
s pport gro p* 6.9
69 14.1
14 1
• Q
Quantitative d
i i data collected on attitudes, d
ll d i d demographics,hi • Data reflects a decrease in evidence-based practices (EBPs) and an
One-on-one counseling* 2.4 6.3 * p < 0.001
ranking, and behavior around Smokefree.gov (SF.gov) The internet or world-wide-web* 14.1 19.3 ** p = 0.022 increase in the use of non-EBPs. This may be attributable to lack of
and smoking cessation. Books, pamphlets, videos , etc.* 15.5 30.1 *** p = 0.002 financial resources and an increase in alternative therapies in the US
Acupuncture or hypnosis*** 6.9 4
• Analyzed differences between 2008 and 2004 data for Nicotine replacement* 38.6 62.88 • Decrease in aggregate ranking and attitudes towards SF.gov may be
Prescription pill* 21.5 34.8
all former and current smokers. attributable to burgeoning WATI field as well as a desire for more
Attitudes about SF.gov n = 1,033 (%) n = 1,272 (%)
Agree Neutral Disagree Agree Neutral Disagree
* p < 0.001 interactive features. However, overall attitudes towards SF.gov
, g
• All tools were in compliance with OMB regulations. Easy to find 70.4 22.9 6.7 67.4 26.1 6.5
** p = 0.037 remain positive.
In 2004,
Help me quit* 51.6 39.7 8.7 47.5 47.6 4.8
7.5% did not
Message board* 63.4 27.3 9.3 59.5 35.0 5.5
respond to • Although SF.gov is not reaching young or heavy smokers, the
Questions? Navigate** 76.1 19.2 4.7 76.1 21.0 2.8
Contact Andrea Frydl at this question majority of visitors are female; typically the gatekeeper of health
Confusing* 12.3 22.9 64.8 14.6 29.5 56.0
frydlal@mail.nih.gov information. Thus, they may use EBPs from SF.gov to facilitate
quitting in their families.