The aim of this project (the ISCI trial) is to develop an effective interactive internet-based smoking cessation programme for use in the UK. The intervention will have wide potential reach by virtue of being attractive and easy to use and that will, in particular, meet the needs of disadvantaged smokers.
There is a need to develop effective support for smokers wanting to stop to complement services currently available and to reach the largest possible proportion of smokers. The DH is in the process of developing internet-based services for the public and needs a smoking cessation module to offer in addition to the recommendation to use the NHS Stop Smoking Services. The internet offers the potential of wide reach, excellent cost-effectiveness and the capacity to build an incremental, theory-driven technology of behaviour change. The LifeGuide programme was set up specifically for the purpose of development and evaluation of this kind of intervention and makes the process much more feasible and cost-efficient than previously.
The NHS Health Trainers scheme offers a unique opportunity to recruit disadvantaged smokers to help with the development and evaluation of the intervention. Evidence to date indicates that, while internet-based interventions can be effective in helping smokers to stop, there is a need to develop one that will be both popular and effective and will meet the needs of disadvantaged smokers. The development and evaluation process needs to be undertaken in such a way that it establishes broadly applicable principles and helps develop an incremental technology of behaviour change.
Start Date: January 2010
End Date: January 2013
Funding agency: Medical Research Council (MRC).