TY - JOUR
T1 - A tailored Internet-delivered intervention for smoking cessation designed to encourage social support and treatment seeking
T2 - Usability testing and user tracing
AU - Houston, Tom K.
AU - Ford, Daniel E.
N1 - Funding Information:
Using data from the focus groups, we developed a beta-test version of the website and conducted separate usability sessions for six smokers. User comments clustered into themes including; (1) layout (issues related to clutter, too much text); (2) instructions (users were unsure of ‘where to start’); and (3) navigation (several sub-layers did not have a consistent navigation back to home page). In addition, although we had a link entitled ‘who funded the site’, this link was not prominent, and the potential of funding by tobacco companies was a recurrent theme (in two of the six sessions). Thus, we added white space to enhance scannability and reduce clutter, and provided additional instructions on the home page detailing what content users should expect in the modules. We also further emphasized that the website was funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health, and had not received funding from the tobacco industry on the home page. Based on feedback from both focus groups and usability tests, additional components were added as recommended (Peer Support Forum, Ask the Expert, and a Personal Story (testimonial by former smoker—see descriptions in Figure 2)). After these final revisions, the content was complete as displayed in Figure 2, and the website was then advertised on Google as described above.
Funding Information:
The authors would like to acknowledge the efforts of Heather Coley, MPH in the editing of this manuscript. This work was supported by funding from the National Cancer Institute (1R21CA089011-01A1).
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - While Internet technologies show promise for changing behavior, new methods for engaging individuals are needed to maximize effectiveness. The aim of this study is to design and evaluate an Internet-delivered intervention for smoking cessation that encouraged seeking support from family and treatment from doctors. To evaluate different introductions to the Internet site. We conducted usability testing and analyzed server logs to trace user participation in the website. Two groups of users (current smokers) were recruited using Google advertisements. In Phase 1, 58% (75/126) of users accessed the self-management strategies, but few users accessed the social support (28%) and treatment-seeking modules (33%). Then, a brief motivational introduction was added, stating the proven effectiveness of content in the unused modules, low use of these modules, and recommendations by two doctors to use all modules. Compared with Phase 1, in Phase 2 the mean time spent on the website per session increased (8 to 18 min, p = 0.01) and use of the social support (50%) and treatment seeking modules (56%) increased (both p < 0.01). At 1-month follow-up, reports of talking to family about smoking cessation also increased from 84% to 100% (p = 0.038). Changing the rationale and context of Web-based health information using a motivational introduction can change user behavior.
AB - While Internet technologies show promise for changing behavior, new methods for engaging individuals are needed to maximize effectiveness. The aim of this study is to design and evaluate an Internet-delivered intervention for smoking cessation that encouraged seeking support from family and treatment from doctors. To evaluate different introductions to the Internet site. We conducted usability testing and analyzed server logs to trace user participation in the website. Two groups of users (current smokers) were recruited using Google advertisements. In Phase 1, 58% (75/126) of users accessed the self-management strategies, but few users accessed the social support (28%) and treatment-seeking modules (33%). Then, a brief motivational introduction was added, stating the proven effectiveness of content in the unused modules, low use of these modules, and recommendations by two doctors to use all modules. Compared with Phase 1, in Phase 2 the mean time spent on the website per session increased (8 to 18 min, p = 0.01) and use of the social support (50%) and treatment seeking modules (56%) increased (both p < 0.01). At 1-month follow-up, reports of talking to family about smoking cessation also increased from 84% to 100% (p = 0.038). Changing the rationale and context of Web-based health information using a motivational introduction can change user behavior.
KW - Internet
KW - physician-patient relations
KW - smoking cessation
KW - social support
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=54849406055&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1080/14639230701842240
DO - 10.1080/14639230701842240
M3 - Article
C2 - 18604759
AN - SCOPUS:54849406055
SN - 1753-8157
VL - 33
SP - 5
EP - 19
JO - Informatics for Health and Social Care
JF - Informatics for Health and Social Care
IS - 1
ER -