1. Smoking Cessation & Information Behavior in an Online Forum Carol Perryman, MS LIS, IMLS/TRLN Doctoral Fellow School of Information & Library Science University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

2. What is the usual dose for Wellbutrin for quitting? Is it safe while trying to conceive? My Dr. isn't sure, and I want to start it as soon as possible. My Dr. says it's better than smoking, but I'm nervous. I have had no coughing fits like last quit, no cravings and no food cravings (by the grace of God), so why am I having heart palps, chest tightness and problems breathing??? I have made previous attempts at quitting. I did not know there was online support and I want info regarding the effect quitting has on the medication I take for depression. Does anyone know if Alzheimers can yet be linked with smoking? Just curious as I am 2nd in line here for this non-heritary (sp?) disease. Runs in the family it looks like. Questions Quotations taken with the permission of their authors from the QuitNet forum.

3. The Situation 1. 25% of all adult Americans smoke, resulting in the loss of more than 440,000 lives per year. 2. More than half of those who continue to smoke will die of an illness directly attributable to smoking. 3. Smoking is the single greatest contributor to preventable deaths. 4. Smokers attempting to quit often experience symptoms very similar to those experienced by other addicts in withdrawal, including sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, and concentration difficulties. 1&2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, (1996, November 8). Projected smoking-related deaths among youth -- United States, MMWR, 45(44):971-974. Available online at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00044348.htm 3. Burns, D. M. (2002). Reducing tobacco use: What works in the population? Journal of Dental Education, 66(9), 1051-60. 4. Hughes, J.R., Higgins, S.T. & Bickel, W.K., (1994, November). Nicotine withdrawal versus other drug withdrawal syndromes: Similarities and dissimilarities. Addiction, 89(11).

4. To examine the role of information communicated in an online forum dedicated to smoking cessation, with the initial hypothesis that quitting smokers in this environment perceive the support they receive to be satisfactory and helpful in achieving their goal of cessation. Objectives

5. Location Image used with the kind permission of Dr. Nathan Cobb, the founder of QuitNet.com.

6. Data & Methods 20-question web-based survey (Zoomerang.com) –demographic information –cessation strategies past and present –value-weighted assessment of information received from physicians, peers, the web forum, and other sources Data gathering on the forum: 2 full days of cessation- related content (53 ‘threads’ or 371 individual postings) –Coded into 18 categories – initial posting and responses

7. Survey Results Therapeutic interventions 38%none 30%group sessions (clinic) 23%aromatherapy 8%cessation counselor 15%healthcare professional counseling, accupuncture, hypnosis, massage (each) Information sources 93%QuitNet forum 78%Worldwide Web 57%physicians 43%associations (e.g.: American Lung Association) 36%cessation counselors 21%friends or family 14%other

8. A Self-disclosure B General support or advice C Emotional issues D Physiological issues E Medications F “Me too” G Referrals H Forum culture or operation I Other Forum Postings 0.0% 50.0% 100.0% Initial 83.050.981.137.730.10.015.07.539.6 Response 46.855.673.818.225.122.311.39.720.4 ABCDEFGHI

9. Survey respondents viewed the existence of an online community of peers as a positive factor in their cessation effort. Although no attempt was made to generalize findings beyond the initial pilot, gaps were identified between support provided by healthcare and in-person community resources and the information needs expressed by this population. Results Men tended not to use counseling or support Individuals are open to a broad range of therapies Frequent questions about medications – of peers Largest frequency of need is for emotional support

10. In their provision of a milieu for the exchange of cessation related information and community support, online fora may enable support at a depth and quantity unavailable through more immediate channels. Further studies are needed to develop a better understanding of the information-related behaviors of this population. Conclusion

11. INFORMATION SAVES LIVES Dedicated to the thousands of people trying to save their lives, daily, to the members of QuitNet.com who helped with this study, and to the forum itself, for all it does.