Internet-Based Intervention Compared to Brief Intervention for Smoking Cessation in Brazil: Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Smoking is still the leading cause of preventable death. Governments and health care providers should make available more accessible resources to help tobacco users stop. OBJECTIVE: This study describes a pilot longitudinal study that evaluated the efficacy of an internet-based intervention compared to the brief intervention for smoking cessation among Brazilians. METHODS: Eligible participants were recruited and randomly allocated to one of the two interventions. Measures were drawn by comparing cessation rates, motivation scores, and sought treatment between groups, assessed 1 and 3 months after the intervention. Inferential analysis was performed to compare the participants' characteristics, and the intention to treat was calculated. RESULTS: A total of 49 smokers were enrolled in this study (n=25, 51% in the brief intervention group; n=24, 49% in the internet-based intervention group). Mean age was 44.5 (SD 13.3) years; most were male (n=29, 59.2%), had elementary school (n=22, 44.9%), smoked 14.5 cigarettes per day on average (SD 8.6), and had a mean score of 4.65 for nicotine dependence and 5.7 for motivation to quit. Moreover, 35 (71%) participants answered follow-up 1, and 19 (39%) answered follow-up 2. The results showed similar rates of cessation and reduction for both intervention groups. CONCLUSIONS: The internet-based intervention was slightly more effective for smoking cessation, while the brief intervention was more effective in reducing the number of cigarettes smoked per day. This difference was small and had no statistical significance even after adjusting for intention-to-treat analysis. These results should be interpreted with caution, especially due to the small sample size.

A comparative analysis of metaheuristics applied to adaptive curriculum sequencing.

The effective adoption of online learning depends on user satisfaction as distance education approaches suffer from a lack of commitment that may lead to failures and dropouts. The adaptive learning literature argues that an alternative to achieve student satisfaction is to treat them individually, delivering the educational content in a personalized manner. In addition, the sequencing of this content-called Adaptive Curriculum Sequencing (ACS)-is important to avoid cognitive overload and disorientation. The search for an optimal sequence from ever-growing databases is an NP-Hard combinatorial optimization problem. Although some approaches have been proposed, it is challenging to assess their contributions due to the lack of benchmark data available. This paper presents a procedure to create synthetic dataset to evaluate ACS approaches and, as a concept proof, analyzes metaheuristics usually used in ACS approaches: Genetic Algorithm, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Prey-Predator Algorithm using student's learning goals and their extrinsic and intrinsic information. We also propose an approach based on Differential Evolution (DE). The computational experiments include synthetic datasets with a varied amount of learning materials and real-world datasets for comparison. The results show that DE performed better than the other methods when less than 500 learning materials are used while PSO performed better for larger problems.

Facebook recruitment of smokers: comparing gain- and loss-framed ads for the purposes of an Internet-based smoking cessation intervention.

Gain- and loss-framed messages about smoking behavior have commonly been used to promote cessation. However, there are still no clear conclusions as to what kind of message is more effective for motivating smokers to quit. This study compared the effectiveness of loss- and gain-framed messages in the online recruitment of smokers via Facebook Advertising. Loss- and gain-framed messages about smoking were created and released as Facebook ads. Users who clicked on the ads were automatically redirected to the "Live Without Tobacco" intervention (http://www.vivasemtabaco.com.br). The amount spent on the ads was BRL 647.64. Data were collected from the Facebook Ads platform and from a relational database. Analyses were performed on the 6,350 users who clicked on one of the ads and 1,731 who were successfully redirected to the intervention. Gain-framed ads reached 174,029 people and loss-framed ads reached 180,527. The former received 2,688 clicks, while the latter received 3,662. The cost of the click was BRL 0.12 per gain-framed ad and BRL 0.09 per loss-framed ad. Loss-framed ads reached more users, got more clicks (and website accesses), and led to more accounts and quit plans being created. Loss-framed messages about smoking appear to be more cost-effective for both initial recruitment and intervention engagement. Facebook has proven to be a good outreach and recruitment tool and can be a solution for the difficulty in reaching smokers for cessation interventions.

Facebook recruitment of smokers: comparing gain- and loss-framed ads for the purposes of an Internet-based smoking cessation intervention / Recrutamento de fumantes através do Facebook: uma comparação de anúncios com informações positivas e negativas em uma intervenção online voltada para a cessação do tabagismo / Captación de fumadores a través de Facebook: comparación de anuncios resaltados sobre los beneficios de dejar de fumar y los perjuicios del tabaquismo para una campaña publicitaria realizada en Internet como intervención contra el tabaquismo

Abstract: Gain- and loss-framed messages about smoking behavior have commonly been used to promote cessation. However, there are still no clear conclusions as to what kind of message is more effective for motivating smokers to quit. This study compared the effectiveness of loss- and gain-framed messages in the online recruitment of smokers via Facebook Advertising. Loss- and gain-framed messages about smoking were created and released as Facebook ads. Users who clicked on the ads were automatically redirected to the "Live Without Tobacco" intervention (http://www.vivasemtabaco.com.br). The amount spent on the ads was BRL 647.64. Data were collected from the Facebook Ads platform and from a relational database. Analyses were performed on the 6,350 users who clicked on one of the ads and 1,731 who were successfully redirected to the intervention. Gain-framed ads reached 174,029 people and loss-framed ads reached 180,527. The former received 2,688 clicks, while the latter received 3,662. The cost of the click was BRL 0.12 per gain-framed ad and BRL 0.09 per loss-framed ad. Loss-framed ads reached more users, got more clicks (and website accesses), and led to more accounts and quit plans being created. Loss-framed messages about smoking appear to be more cost-effective for both initial recruitment and intervention engagement. Facebook has proven to be a good outreach and recruitment tool and can be a solution for the difficulty in reaching smokers for cessation interventions.

Resumo: A cessação do tabagismo tem sido promovida através de mensagens positivas, focadas em ganhos, e negativas, focadas em perdas. Entretanto, ainda não há conclusões claras sobre o tipo de medida mais eficaz na motivação dos fumantes para deixar de fumar. O estudo comparou a efetividade das mensagens negativas e positivas no recrutamento online de fumantes através de anúncios no Facebook. Mensagens negativas e positivas sobre o tabagismo foram criadas e divulgadas pelo Facebook Ads. Ao clicar nos anúncios, os usuários eram automaticamente direcionados para a intervenção "Viva Sem Tabaco" (http://www.vivasemtabaco.com.br). O valor gasto na divulgação foi de BRL 647,64. Os dados foram extraídos da plataforma de anúncios do Facebook e de uma base de dados relacionais. As análises foram realizadas para os 6.350 usuários que clicaram em um dos anúncios e para os 1.731 usuários que foram redirecionados para a intervenção. Os anúncios positivos atingiram 174.029 pessoas e os negativos 180.527, que foram convertidas em 2.688 e 3.662 cliques, respectivamente. O custo do clique foi de BRL 0,12 para os anúncios positivos e de BRL 0,09 para os negativos. Os anúncios negativos atingiram mais usuários, receberam mais cliques no site e tiveram maior conversão em número de contas e planos de cessação criados. As mensagens sobre as perdas associadas com o tabagismo parecem ser mais custo-eficazes, tanto no recrutamento quanto no engajamento dos fumantes na intervenção. O Facebook mostrou ser uma boa ferramenta de divulgação e recrutamento e pode ser uma solução para a dificuldade de alcançar fumantes para intervenções de cessação.

Resumen: Los anuncios resaltados sobre los efectos del tabaco se han utilizado para luchar contra el tabaquismo. No obstante, todavía no existen conclusiones claras sobre qué tipo de mensaje es el más efectivo para motivar a los fumadores a dejar este hábito. Este estudio comparó la efectividad de anuncios resaltados sobre los beneficios de dejar de fumar y otros sobre los perjuicios del tabaquismo para una campaña de captación de fumadores en línea a través de Facebook Advertising. Estos anuncios fueron creados y divulgados mediante Facebook Ads. Los usuarios que hicieron clic en los anuncios fueron automáticamente redirigidos a la intervención "Vive sin Tabaco" (http://www.vivasemtabaco.com.br). La cantidad invertida para su difusión fue BRL 647.64. Los datos se recogieron de la plataforma Facebook Ads y de una base de datos relacional. Los análisis se realizaron con 6.350 fumadores que hicieron clic en uno de los anuncios y con los 1.731 que fueron redirigidos a la intervención. Los anuncios sobre los beneficios de dejar de fumar llegaron a 174.029 personas y los relativos a los perjuicios a 180.527, que se convirtieron en 2.688 y 3.662 clics, respectivamente. El coste del clic fue BRL 0.12 para los anuncios sobre los beneficios de dejar de fumar y BRL 0.09 en el caso de los que subrayaban los perjuicios. Estos últimos alcanzaron a más usuarios, tuvieron más clics en la página web, y existió una conversión más grande entre el número de cuentas y planes creados para dejar de fumar. Asimismo, estos anuncios se muestran como más costo efectivos, tanto para la captación, como para la implicación de fumadores en esta intervención. Facebook ha demostrado ser una buena herramienta de alcance y captación y puede ser una solución para evitar la dificultad de llegar a fumadores en intervenciones de lucha contra el tabaquismo.

Depression among smokers of a web-based intervention to quit smoking: a cross-sectional study / Depresión entre fumadores de una intervención en línea para dejar el tabaco: un estudio transversal

Abstract: Introduction: Web-based interventions for smoking cessation are an innovative strategy to reduce the burden of smoking. Although many web-based interventions are freely available in many languages and have proven to be effective, so far no study has covered in detail the association between depression and smoking. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of depression among users of the Viva sem Tabaco, a web-based intervention for smoking cessation. Method: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study. In the internet-based intervention participated 1 433. Inclusion criteria were: being 18 years or older and a smoker; exclusion criteria were: omitting to fill out two questions of the screening depression questionnaire PHQ-2 and having made multiple accesses within a limited time span, characterizing invalid access. At the end, the sample had 461 participants. Participants answered questions related to sociodemographic characteristics, tobacco history, depression (PHQ-2 and PHQ-9), alcohol use, and intervention use. Results: Participants average age was 42.3 years (SD = 12.1). Most participants were female (67%), and 70% were employed during the time of the study. From the total sample, 36.4% of the participants presented depression according to PHQ-2. Being screened with depression was associated with tobacco dependence (OR = 1.10; 95% CI = 1.00, 1.20), and associated with not having a job (OR = .53; 95% CI = .29, .97). Discussion and conclusion: Depression may be a factor to be considered in programs that offer support to quit smoking through the internet for Portuguese Speakers.

Resumen: Introducción: Las intervenciones en línea para la interrupción del tabaquismo son una estrategia innovadora para reducir el nivel de consumo de tabaco. Aunque hay muchas intervenciones en línea gratuitas en varios idiomas que han demostrado ser eficaces, ningún estudio ha abarcado detalladamente la asociación entre depresión y tabaquismo. Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la prevalencia de depresión entre usuarios de una intervención en línea para dejar de fumar. Método: Se trata de un estudio transversal retrospectivo. 1 433 participantes fueron invitados para participar de la intervención mediada por internet. Los criterios de inclusión fueron tener 18 años o más y ser fumador; los criterios de exclusión fueron no haber marcado dos preguntas del cuestionario de detección de depresión PHQ-2 y haber realizado múltiples accesos dentro de un lapso de tiempo limitado, lo que se caracterizó como un acceso no válido. Los participantes (N = 461) respondieron a preguntas relacionadas con características sociodemográficas, historia del tabaco, depresión (PHQ-2 y PHQ-9), uso de alcohol y uso de la intervención. Resultados: De la muestra total, el 36.4% de los participantes presentaron depresión de acuerdo con el PHQ-2. La depresión se asoció con la dependencia del tabaco (OR = 1.10; 95% IC = 1.00, 1.20) y asociada con no tener un empleo (OR = .53; 95% IC = .29, .97). Discusión y conclusión: La depresión es un factor que se debe considerar en los programas que ofrecen apoyo para dejar de fumar a través de Internet para hablantes de portugués.

Telemedicine: Development of a distance care system for pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease patients.

INTRODUCTION: The focus in the treatment of CKD is to prevent its progression through optimal medical control. The large number of patients with CKD has pressed nephrologists to assess more patients into ever-smaller periods of consultation. The use of light technologies as a promising form of health care. The internet offers the opportunity to manipulate the doctor in his professional contact with the user. OBJECTIVE: To develop a web system to attend the patients with CKD not on dialysis and clinically stable stages at distance. METHODS: Developed a system using the Java language, MySQL database and PrimeFaces framework; available on a Glassfish application server. RESULTS: The initial access is performed by the nephrologist, which registers the patients with their personal information and access data. After being registered, the patient (or family doctor) can enter the data of your query and these will be following, passed on to the nephrologist for evaluation. The form with the data of interest is pre-determined, but there is possibility to add free-form information. The system enables, in addition, there is exchange of messages between doctors and patients. In addition, users receive messages via e-mail alerting them of their duties. Confidentiality is guaranteed by individual passwords for doctors and patients. CONCLUSION: This tool will enable to increase the coverage area of nephrologists, reduce costs and bring the patient to the primary care physician, using the Family Health Program as an interface between the patient and the nephrology secondary care.

Telemedicina: Desenvolvimento de um sistema para atendimento à distância de pacientes com doença renal crônica pré-dialítica / Telemedicine: Development of a distance care system for pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease patients

ResumoIntrodução:O foco no tratamento da doença renal crônica (DRC) é evitar a sua progressão com o uso do controle clínico otimizado. O uso de tecnologias leves apresenta-se como forma promissora de cuidado em saúde. A internet oferece a oportunidade de instrumentalizar o médico em seu contato profissional com o usuário.Objetivo:Desenvolver um sistema web para o atendimento a distância de pacientes com DRC nos estágios não dialíticos e clinicamente estáveis.Métodos:Desenvolvido um sistema utilizando a linguagem Java, banco de dados MySQL e framework PrimeFaces; disponibilizado em um servidor de aplicações Glassfish.Resultados:O acesso inicial é realizado pelo nefrologista, que cadastra os pacientes com suas informações pessoais e dados de acesso. Após ser cadastrado, o paciente (ou médico de família) pode inserir os dados de sua consulta e estes serão, na sequência, repassados ao nefrologista para avaliação. O formulário com os dados de interesse é pré-determinado, mas ainda há possibilidade de acrescentar informações de forma livre. O sistema possibilita, adicionalmente, que haja troca de mensagens entre os médicos e os pacientes. Além disso, os usuários recebem mensagens via e-mail alertando-os de suas tarefas. O sigilo é garantido por senhas individuais para médicos e pacientes.Conclusão:Essa ferramenta possibilitará aumentar a área de abrangência dos nefrologistas, diminuir os custos e aproximar o paciente ao seu médico da atenção básica, utilizando o Programa de Saúde de Família como interface entre o paciente e a atenção secundária nefrológica.

AbstractIntroduction:The focus in the treatment of CKD is to prevent its progression through optimal medical control. The large number of patients with CKD has pressed nephrologists to assess more patients into ever-smaller periods of consultation. The use of light technologies as a promising form of health care. The internet offers the opportunity to manipulate the doctor in his professional contact with the user.Objective:To develop a web system to attend the patients with CKD not on dialysis and clinically stable stages at distance.Methods:Developed a system using the Java language, MySQL database and PrimeFaces framework; available on a Glassfish application server.Results:The initial access is performed by the nephrologist, which registers the patients with their personal information and access data. After being registered, the patient (or family doctor) can enter the data of your query and these will be following, passed on to the nephrologist for evaluation. The form with the data of interest is pre-determined, but there is possibility to add free-form information. The system enables, in addition, there is exchange of messages between doctors and patients. In addition, users receive messages via e-mail alerting them of their duties. Confidentiality is guaranteed by individual passwords for doctors and patients.Conclusion:This tool will enable to increase the coverage area of nephrologists, reduce costs and bring the patient to the primary care physician, using the Family Health Program as an interface between the patient and the nephrology secondary care.