COMPUTER-AUTOMATED SMOKING CESSATION FOR COLD PATIENTS

THIS PROJECT WILL DEVELOP A COMPUTER-AUTOMATED SMOKING CESSATION PROGRAM SUITABLE FOR HOME USE BY PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE LUNG DISEASE (COLD). SMOKING CESSATION SIGNIFICANTLY SLOWS THE COURSE OF COLD AND THE ACCELERATED DETERIORATION IN QUALITY OF LIFE FOR MOST COLD PATIENTS. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO BE INTERACTIVE, PROVIDE FREQUENT FEEDBACK REGARDING PERFORMANCE, BE USER FRIENDLY, AND USE THE BRANCHING CAPABILITIES OF A MICROCOMPUTER TO TAILOR THE INTERVENTIONS TO INDIVIDUAL PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS. THE CONTENTS OF THE SMOKING CESSATION PROGRAM WILL FALL INTO TWOCATEGORIES: (1) EDUCATION ABOUT COLD AND SMOKING; AND (2) TRAINING IN SPECIFIC SELF-MANAGEMENT SKILLS SUCH AS NICOTINEFADING, SELF-MONITORING, AND SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS OF SMOKINGBEHAVIOR. PHASE I GOALS ARE TO DEVELOP AND PILOT TEST A PROTOTYPE SMOKING-CESSATION PROGRAM WITH CHRONIC BRONCHITIS (CB) PATIENTS TO ASSESS UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS CB PATIENTS ARE MOST LIKELY TO COMPLY WITH THE DEMANDS OF COMPUTER-AUTOMATEDSMOKING CESSATION AND, THEREFORE, RECEIVE MAXIMUM BENEFIT. PHASE II GOALS INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS FOR PATIENTS WITH EMPHYSEMA AND OTHER LUNG DISEASES, THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MAINTENANCE COMPONENT, AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CLINICAL TRIALS. THE LATTER WOULD COMPARE COMPUTER-AUTOMATED SMOKING CESSATION WITH OTHER TREATMENT MODALITIES SUCH AS BIBLIOTHERAPY AND CLINIC-BASED SMOKING CESSATION. METHODS FOR MONITORING AND ENHANCING COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROGRAM WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO THE RESEARCH.