Dismantling Computer Tailoring Adaptations for Smoking Cessation

During the last decade a Dutch computerized smoking cessation system was developed and tested (Advies over Roken op Maat; AROM 3.0). Findings suggest 7 day quit rates around 20% in smokers motivated to quit after 3 months. The computer tailoring techniques (CT) of these first generation studies apply three strategies: 1. Personalisation (using a person's name); 2. Motivatational Feedback (providing feedback on outcome and self-efficacy beliefs in order to reinforce or change these beliefs); 3. Repetitive Feedback (tailored information during multiple events). These studies show that adequate tailored information is more successful than standard information, and that the effectiveness improves when multiple tailoring is used. The first generation CT techniques, however, can be characterized by providing tailored responses to questions answered by smokers, but yet using a limited number of potentially relevant factors. They provided only limited insight into factors relevant for behavioral change. Hence, an analysis of the impact of other relevant factors to further increase levels of behavioral change is needed. The present project consists of a series of distinct dismantling studies with the goal to further clarify this question by analyzing the additional impact of Goal Setting Techniques (Study 1); Social Support Techniques (Study 2); and Emotional Feedback Techniques (Study 3). In these three studies we will test the motivational and behavioral effects of the addition of three specific types of information to the existing techniques used in the current computer tailored program AROM 3.0 (that provides tailored feedback information on only outcome and self-effficacy beliefs of one person).