The document summarizes a study that analyzed the content of first posts from 2,562 members of an online social network for smokers called StopSmokingCenter.net. It found that 15% of registered members made at least one post. Most posters were recent quitters seeking support, and they posted quickly after registering. Replies usually came within an hour and mainly provided encouragement or advice from other members who had quit for at least a month. The study provided insights but had limitations like an unknown true denominator and lack of data on quit rates between posters and non-posters.

2. Moderated Online Social Networking for smokers: Content of first posts from 2,562 smokers 1 Trevor van Mierlo, BA; 2 3 Peter Selby MBBS, CCFP; 2 3 John Cunningham Ph.D.; 1 Danielle Parent, BScN 4 September, 2008 1 V-CC Systems Inc. 2 Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) 3 University of Toronto

4. StopSmokingCenter.net (SSC) Beta

5. SSC Support Group

9. Posters vs. non-Posters Statistically significant but not clinically significant Country 69.3% 73.5% USA 12.6% 12.3% Canada 7.3% 6.2% UK 10.8% 8.0% Other 64.6% 70.1% % Female 38.7 40.4 Mean Age Non-Posters or “lurkers” (84.7%) n = 14,202 Posters (15.3%) n = 2,562 n =16,764

10. Smoking characteristics 19.5 21.6 Years Smoked 20.4 22.2 Cigs per day 36% (5.5) 67% (5.8) Completed Fagerstrom: (mean score) Non-Posters or “lurkers” (84.7%) n = 14,202 Posters (15.3%) n = 2,562

14. What are their reasons for posting? 6.8% Sharing a tip or strategy about quitting: 0.2% Told to quit by healthcare professional 16.1% Question or comment about withdrawal symptoms: 17.6% Responding to another quitter’s questions or comments about cravings or triggers: 4.5% Question or comment about NRT or other quit aid: 6.2% Quitter has had a slip or relapsed: 13.6% Discussing their need to quit for their health or the health of others: 15.3% Question or comment about cravings or triggers: 28% Quitter who is struggling and is seeking support or advice:

15. Who replies? Responders tend to be from those who have quit more than a month ago, but less than a year. *2.6% (n = 68) of posts did not get a response 35.0% quit less than one year ago: 23.7% quit within the last month: 58.7% Total: 15.6% (n = 399) Health Educator: 81.8% (n = 2,095) Member:

19. Cunningham, J. A., van Mierlo, T., & Fournier, R. (2008). An online support group for problem drinkers: AlcoholHelpCenter.net. Patient Education and Counseling, 70(2), 193-198. In press: Methodological issues in the evaluation of internet-based interventions for problem drinking

20. Thank You