| Summary: | 碩士 === 臺北醫學大學 === 全球衛生暨發展碩士學位學程 === 102 === Background: Several studies have shown that text messaging and internet based smoking cessation programs have reported promising outcomes in developed countries. While little is
known about technology based cessation (Text Messaging, Multimedia Messaging, E-Mail, Web-based) efforts in developing country, this study aims to evaluate the attitude of current smoker towards the acceptance of technology based smoking cessation program in India.
Methods: A community-based survey was conducted among 900 participants selected from NGO (Sustha-Jibon) at Kolkata (Calcutta), state of West Bengal, in India. Information on sociodemographic characteristics, smoking use pattern, technological behavior, attitudes towards smoking, preference of mode of intervention delivery and seriously thinking of quitting was measured using a pretested structural questionnaire. The participants are divided into two groups, technology based and traditional based smoking cessation program, on the basis of their preference of smoking cessation intervention. Chi-square analysis was applied to determine the difference of age group, gender, marital status, educational attainment, work status, technological factors, smoking factors and attitudes of health effects between these two groups.
Results: The participants are young within 37 years of age (42.44 + 26.11 = 68.55%), male dominant (73.88%). More than 50% participants are single (54.22%) and highly educated (28.00 + 48.66+ 5.00 = 81.66). Although, higher educated participants (college), were more seriously thinking of quitting compared to other groups. Average from 88% to 94% participants is using Email and Internet everyday or almost every day. 90.10% participants informed that their family
members are currently smoking. 60% study participants believed smokers were not setting good example for their children. 51.8% participants were seriously thinking of quitting in the next 6 months although 91.1% participants had no experience of smoking cessation before. Between
two groups (technology-based and traditional-based), technology based smoking cessation program was more preferable to study participants (n=658). Thus, 91.9% of 900 study participators used Internet other than E-mail every day or nearly every day. 58.88% study participants believed smoking is annoying for people around the smokers as well as 58.66% participants believed smoking is waste of money. 54.44% study participants agreed with the fact that smoking is normal. Indeed, Text Messaging (98.62%) and Internet (96.95%) was the most preferable mode of intervention by the participants who had chosen technology based cessation
program as well as In-Person (group) (94.20%) was the preferable mode of intervention for the participants who had chosen traditional based smoking cessation program.
Conclusion: As the first study is done in India regarding the acceptance of technology based smoking cessation program, the study result shows that participants have highly interest in technology based smoking cessation program. We suggest the policy focusing on the smoking
cessation program by technology approach.
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