The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: Smokers with Internet access can utilize web-based programs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Ceridian Stop Smoking Center (available in Canadian French and English) is a self-guided and personalized web-based smoking cessation program with an online support group moderated by trained healthcare professionals. The objective of the present study is to review program data to determine demographic characteristics and access patterns of quitters accessing the program via their Employee Assistance Program.

Methods: Data were analyzed from 418 smokers who registered with the program between January 10 and December 13, 2005. Self-reported data sets were collected from a customized SQL server database while access patterns were obtained via WebTrends® software.

Results: Self-reported demographic data indicated that 74.92% of registrants were women and on average 38 years old, smoked 18 cigarettes per day, had smoked for 18 years and had made four previous quit attempts. 54.8% had at least one co-resident smoker. For the 112 users who progressed to the program's Contemplation stage the mean FTND score was 3.74.

The programs recorded 23,294 page views and 8,012 visits. The English program recorded an average visit length of 13 minutes 43 seconds while that to the French program was 8 minutes 51 seconds. Total English and French visits during work hours (8:00am – 5:00 pm EST) was 5,422 while total visits after work hours (05:01pm – 7:59 am EST) was 2,523, indicating that smokers were accessing the program form both home and work. Limitations of data are discussed.