Tailored Web and Peer Email Cessation Counseling for College Smokers

RealU: Tailored Web and Peer Email Cessation Counseling for College Smokers

The RealU2 is a randomized controlled trial to determine the efficacy of an online health and wellness program for young adults with the addition of individualized peer health coaching.

The RealU addresses smoking in a young adult population of occasional and daily smokers.

Aim 1. To determine the efficacy of providing individually tailored smoking cessation messages as part of a general interest website for young adults.

Aim 2. To determine the efficacy of providing individually tailored smoking cessation messages plus peer email, phone and online support as part of a general interest website for young adults.

Participants were recruited via direct emails sent to undergraduate and graduate students at the University of MI as well as direct emails sent to participants from Survey Sampling International and National Data Group. Individuals were invited to complete an online survey about health and hope in young adults. Participants eligible for the full intervention were invited to join the RealU Study.

Participants were asked to complete an online enrollment survey and consent form. Eligible, enrolled participants were randomly assigned to one of the following three study arms:

• an untailored general interest/lifestyle website
• an individually tailored web intervention about health and lifestyle
• an individually tailored web intervention about health and lifestyle with coaching from peers, including video, phone, and email

Assessments were conducted at 7 weeks and 12 weeks post-enrollment. The primary outcome measure is self-reported 30-day abstinence at 12 weeks.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18-35
• Able to read English
• Internet access for the next 3 months
• Self-reported internet use of more than once per week
• Smoked at least one puff of a cigarette in the past 30 days

Exclusion Criteria:

• Use of smokeless tobacco in the past 30 days