Strecher V J, Kreuter M, Den Boer D J, Kobrin S, Hospers H J, Skinner C S
Health Communications Research Laboratory, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill 27599-7400.
J Fam Pract. 1994 Sep;39(3):262-70.
Many conventional health education materials, such as pamphlets and booklets, are designed to reach as wide an audience as possible; they are therefore often lengthy and contain information irrelevant to many consumers. Computer technologies allow sophisticated tailoring of messages targeted to individual patients and free of irrelevant information.
In two studies in North Carolina (study 1, N = 51; study 2, N = 197), adult cigarette smokers were identified from a cohort of family practice patients. Cigarette consumption, interest in quitting smoking, perceived benefits and barriers to quitting, and other characteristics relevant to smoking cessation were collected. Based on this information, smoking cessation letters were tailored by computer to individuals. Smokers were randomly assigned to experimental (tailored health letters) or comparison groups (generic health letter in study 1, no health letter in study 2). Smoking status was assessed again at 4 months (study 1) or 6 months (study 2).
Both studies found statistically significant positive effects of tailored health letters among moderate to light smokers. In study 1, 30.7% reported quitting after 6 months vs 7.1% in the control group (P < .05); in study 2, 19.1% vs 7.3% (P < .05).
Results from both studies indicate positive effects of computer-tailored smoking messages among moderate to light smokers. These findings are consistent with the focus of our computer-tailored program on psychological and behavioral factors related to smoking cessation. Smoking cessation outcomes may be enhanced by combining tailored messages with nicotine replacement therapies to treat physical dependency. Methods of tailoring health messages and incorporating the results into family practice are described.
许多传统的健康教育材料，如小册子和宣传册，旨在尽可能广泛地覆盖受众；因此，它们往往篇幅冗长，包含许多与许多消费者无关的信息。计算机技术允许针对个体患者进行复杂的信息定制，且不包含无关信息。
在北卡罗来纳州的两项研究中（研究1，N = 51；研究2，N = 197），从一组家庭医疗患者中识别出成年吸烟者。收集了香烟消费量、戒烟意愿、对戒烟的感知益处和障碍以及其他与戒烟相关的特征。基于这些信息，通过计算机为个体定制戒烟信件。吸烟者被随机分配到实验组（定制健康信件）或对照组（研究1中的通用健康信件，研究2中无健康信件）。在4个月（研究1）或6个月（研究2）时再次评估吸烟状况。
两项研究均发现，定制健康信件对中度至轻度吸烟者具有统计学上显著的积极影响。在研究1中，6个月后报告戒烟的比例为30.7%，而对照组为7.1%（P <.05）；在研究2中，该比例分别为19.1%和7.3%（P <.05）。
两项研究的结果均表明，计算机定制的吸烟信息对中度至轻度吸烟者具有积极影响。这些发现与我们的计算机定制项目关注与戒烟相关的心理和行为因素一致。通过将定制信息与尼古丁替代疗法相结合来治疗身体依赖，可能会提高戒烟效果。本文描述了定制健康信息并将结果纳入家庭医疗的方法。
