COMPUTER-BASED SMOKING CESSATION INTERVENTIONS IN ADOLESCENTS - DESCRIPTION, FEASIBILITY, AND 6-MONTH FOLLOW-UP FINDINGS

The impact of adolescent smoking cessation clinics has been disappoint ing due to low participation rates, high attrition, and low quit rates . This paper describes two computerized self-help adolescent smoking c essation intervention programs: 1) a program utilizing the expert syst em which is based on the transtheoretical model of change and 2) a pop ular action-oriented smoking cessation clinic program for teens which was modified for computer presentation. High participation rates in th e program among 132 smokers demonstrate the high feasibility and accep tability of the programs. Quit rates of up to 20% were observed during the intervention, and an additional 30% made unsuccessful quit attemp t(s). The 6-month follow-up findings indicated that adolescents were p oorly prepared to maintain abstinence.