Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35811784›Full record

ArticleTobacco prevention & cessation2022

Mixed methods evaluation of the 'real-world' implementation of group-based behavioral stop smoking support through Facebook.

Laura Heavey, Rachel Wright, Muiriosa Ryan, Edward Murphy, Martina Blake, Ben Cloney, Paul Kavanagh, Frank Doyle

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Tobacco prevention & cessation, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Laura HeaveyDepartment of Public Health Medicine, HSE Midlands, Tullamore, Ireland.
Rachel WrightHSE Communications, Dublin, Ireland.
Muiriosa RyanHSE Communications, Dublin, Ireland.
Edward MurphyHSE Tobacco Free Ireland Programme, EET Hospital, Cork, Ireland.
Martina BlakeHSE Tobacco Free Ireland Programme, Strategic Planning and Transformation, HSE Oak House, Nass, Ireland.
Ben CloneyHSE Communications, Dublin, Ireland.
Paul KavanaghHSE Tobacco Free Ireland Programme, Strategic Planning and Transformation, HSE Oak House, Nass, Ireland.
Frank DoyleRoyal College of Surgeons, Division of Population Health Sciences, University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionWhile promising evidence from trials of social-media-based stop smoking support informs service-planning, there is a need for more prospective, observational studies of smoking cessation interventions to build 'real-world' evidence. Specifically, user experiences have been under-explored with qualitative methods to date. This mixed-method evaluation of a closed Facebook group-based behavioral stop smoking support program, which was conducted in Ireland in 2018, aimed to address these issues.

methodsPre- and post-program surveys measured smoking abstinence (self-reported 7-day point prevalence), changes in smoking attitudes and behavior, and participant experiences. Engagement with Facebook was measured through counting 'likes' and comments, and was used to categorize groups as 'more active' and 'less active' over a 12-week period of support. Thematic content analysis of semi-structured participant interviews explored program experience in depth.

resultsIn total, 13 of 52 participants reported smoking abstinence post-program (25.0%, 95% CI: 14.0-39.0). Participant engagement with Facebook was variable and decreased over the program. Membership of a 'more active' group was associated with better reported participant experience (e.g. 90.9% agreeing 'Facebook group helped me to quit or reduce smoking', versus 33.3% in the 'less active' group, p<0.05). Qualitative analysis identified three over-arching themes: importance of social interactions; perception of health information; and appeal of online support.

conclusionsFacebook can be used to deliver group-based behavioral stop smoking support in the real world. In Ireland, the one-month post-program abstinence outcomes achieved by other stop smoking services is approximately 50%, and while the outcomes for this service was lower (25%), it is still better than outcomes estimated for unassisted quitting. Engagement and peer-to-peer interactivity should be maximized to support positive participant experience.

Indexed as

internet-based interventionprogram evaluationreal-world effectivenesssmoking cessationsocial mediatobacco use disorder

Identifiers

PMID35811784
PMCPMC9218812

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.