An Internet-Based Smoking Cessation Program for Korean Americans: Results from A Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction: Smoking is quite prevalent among Korean Americans (KAs). Quitting is Winning was developed using community-based participatory research principles as an online self-help smoking cessation program for KAs in response to feedback from our community partner who felt that most KAs prefer to quit "on their own."Methods: A randomized controlled trial was used to evaluate this cognitive-behavioral program. The main outcome was the proportion of participants who had quit for at least 30 days, 50 weeks after enrollment, among those randomized into the Internet intervention compared with those receiving a similar program via booklet. The study had 11 online surveys administered every 5 weeks. Results: The study took place between September 2005 and April 2009 and had a final enrollment of 1,112. Based on the outcome assessed at 50 weeks, there was no significant difference in 30-day smoking cessation between the Internet (11%) and booklet (13%) groups (intent-to-treat [ITT] difference = -2%, 95% CI = -6% to 2%). In post-hoc analysis, quitting was higher among participants in the Internet intervention (n = 562) who completed the online program: 26% quit compared with 10% who did not complete the program (ITT difference = 16%, 95% CI = 3%-29%).Conclusions: The Internet self-help smoking cessation program appears to help KA smokers quit, although not more than a similar program delivered via booklet. If we can get people engaged, online cessation programs have potential to reach smokers who would not or cannot participate in more traditional interventions.