BACKGROUND
Recent studies have shown positive, though small clinical effects of digital smoking cessation (SC) interventions for cancer survivors. However, research on associations between participant characteristics, intervention engagement, and outcomes is limited.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to explore predictors and moderators of engagement and outcome of ‘MyCourse Quit Smoking’(in Dutch: ‘MijnKoers Stoppen met Roken’), a digital minimally guided intervention for cancer survivors.
METHODS
A secondary analysis of data from the randomized controlled trial was performed. The number of cigarettes smoked in the past 7 days at 6-month follow-up was the primary outcome measure. We analyzed interactions between participant characteristics (eleven variables), intervention engagement (three variables), and outcome using Robust Linear (Mixed) Modelling.
RESULTS
In total, 165 participants were included in our study. Female participants accessed the intervention less often than men (B=-11.12, p=.004). A higher Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) score at baseline was associated with a significantly higher number of logins (B=1.10, p<.001) and diary registrations (B=1.29, p<.001). A higher Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) score at baseline in the intervention group was associated with a significantly larger reduction in tobacco use after 6 months (B=-9.86, p=.002). No other associations and no moderating effects were found.
CONCLUSIONS
Overall, a limited number of associations was found between participant characteristics, engagement and outcome, except for gender, problematic alcohol use, and nicotine dependence. Future studies are needed to shed light on how this knowledge can be used to improve the effects of digital SC programs for cancer survivors.
CLINICALTRIAL
The Netherlands Trial Register NTR6011; https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/5434