Computer programs help for smokers trying to quit – Health News Article

Trying to quit cigarettes but don’t know how? A new analysis led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health, suggests that Web- and computer-based smoking cessation programs are worth a try, and fortunately during these tough economic times, many of them are free.

Such programs offer a cost-effective alternative to interventions such as telephone hotlines or counseling services, both of which require trained personnel, the researchers said.

These programs typically help users evaluate the benefits of quitting tobacco, such as saving money by not buying cigarettes, and suggest specific strategies for how to handle relapses.

“With the rising cost of health care, there is a need to look for less expensive health programs that are effective,” said study co-author Joel Moskowitz, director of the Center for Family and Community Health at UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health. “What we found in our meta-analysis was that Web- and computer-based programs, once they’re set up and running, are a worthy alternative.”

The authors of the study, to be published Monday, May 25, in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine, systematically analyzed 22 trials in…

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