Conversation Within a Facebook Smoking Cessation Intervention Trial For Young Adults (Tobacco Status Project): Qualitative Analysis

Abstract

BackgroundSmoking cessation interventions delivered through social media have the potential to engage young people in behavior change.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to describe participant-posted messages in a Facebook smoking cessation intervention for young adults to discern support for behavior change.MethodsWe qualitatively analyzed data from the treatment arm of a randomized trial testing the efficacy of the Tobacco Status Project Facebook intervention. Young adults (N=138) aged 18-25 years (female: 81/138, 58.7%; white: 101/138, 73.2%; mean age 21 years) were recruited using Facebook and placed into one of the 15 secret Facebook groups based on readiness-to-quit smoking. Messages posted to groups for 90 consecutive days were tailored to readiness-to-quit: Not Ready (46/138, 33.3%), Thinking (66/138, 47.8%), and Getting Ready (26/138, 18.8%). Groups were randomized to receive up to US $90 for posting or no incentive. Two independent coders conducted open coding of user posts. We considered content by readiness-to-quit group and incentive condition.ResultsThere were 4 dominant themes across all groups: coping skills, friends and family, motivation to quit, and benefits of quitting. The dominant themes in Not Ready groups were friends and family (incentive) and motivation to quit (no incentive), whereas coping skills was the dominant theme in Thinking and Getting Ready groups. The expression of themes varied by readiness-to-quit group but not by incentive condition.ConclusionsIntervention messages tailored to readiness-to-quit appear useful in eliciting the desired responses from young adult smokers, with limited influence by monetary incentive.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT02207036; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02207036 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/722XAEAAz)

Live counselor contact in a Facebook intervention predicts smoking cessation outcomes.

“…We also did not account for participant comment content and length, or engagement of participants with each other in the current study (Meacham et al, 2019). Qualitative analyses of participant comments have been conducted in existing studies (McKelvey & Ramo, 2018), and this is an important area to expand in future research.…”

Can emotional intelligence training cause a cease in tobacco smoking among school-going adolescents?

“…In spite of the increased risk factor associated with mental health problems, including depression and psychiatric disorders, tobacco smoking remains a major public health concern (Jamal et al, 2017;McKelvey & Ramo, 2018;Singh et al, 2016) because the majority of smokers begin in adolescence (Bhaskar et al, 2016;Lim et al, 2010;World Health Organization, 2008). Adolescence is a critical period of transition from childhood to adulthood and it is characterized by rapid physical, cognitive emotional and social development (Alsubaie, 2018).…”

Challenges in the Development of e-Quit worRx: An iPad App for Smoking Cessation Counseling and Shared Decision Making in Primary Care

“…Primary care physicians (PCPs) have an opportunity to discuss smoking cessation evidence in a way that enhances patient-initiated change [4] and quit attempts [5] using new approaches. Unfortunately, although current guidelines summarize the comparative effectiveness of available smoking cessation medications, counseling techniques, and other methods, including smoking cessation apps and social media tools [6-8], physicians discuss cessation with smokers infrequently and underutilize tobacco cessation medications [9,10]. A shared decision-making (SDM) tool can add value to the interchange between a PCP and patient.…”