Quitex

Cardiff University has developed Quitex, an online interactive decision support intervention for smokers to consider methods and options regarding cessations, with decision support and follow-up.

Aim

To assess the feasibility of an interactive web-based decision support intervention for smokers to choose their preferred way to quit smoking.

Background

Tobacco use remains the single greatest cause if preventable illness and early death, responsible for more than 120,000 deaths each year in the UK (DoH 2004). Smoking remains the principle cause of health inequalities, disproportionately affecting the poorest in society. It also places the greatest strain on the NHS, costing between £1.4 and £1.7bn a year in England alone (DoH, 2004).

About the trial

Quitex has been advertised on several website including ASH Wales to recruit approximately 400 participants to trial the online DST. Quitex takes users through a ‘Five Step Plan’ - assessing motivation to quit, nicotine dependence, previous quit attempts, provides information of quitting methods before assessing the users’ decision - asking whether they are ready to quit, what method they have chosen and the quit date. After 4 weeks, participants are invited to complete an online questionnaire on the success of their attempt to quit smoking.

Visit the site at: http://www.quit-ex.co.uk