Study of the Diffusion of a Smoking Cessation Application Through an Online Network

Online Social Networks for Dissemination of Smoking Cessation Interventions

Effective evidence-based interventions exist for smoking cessation delivered over the Internet, but consumer acceptance and adherence remains low. Scalable and efficient mechanisms to disseminate these interventions online are needed, and existing online social networks provide a potential mechanism. This is a proposal for a randomized, factorial trial of the dissemination of an evidence-based intervention through the massive Facebook social network, with the goal of determining intervention characteristics that drive viral spread.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Facebook user
• Age 18 years or older
• Entered UbiQUITous Facebook Application
• Confirms smoker status
• U.S. resident

Exclusion Criteria:

• Non-smoker
• Under 18 years old
• Non-U.S. resident
• Non-Facebook advertisement point of entry