Reviews
Stop Smoking the e-Way!
Vinod Scaria reviews 'Stop Smoking' resources on the internet The consumption of cigarettes and other tobacco products has already been acknowledged as the single largest prevent able cause of mortality and morbidity world wide. Quitting early on is perhaps the best way out. The internet is the single largest information source. It also hosts information on how to quit and be adherent to the decision to do so. There are also a number of support groups, mailing lists and online communities to help people. This article reviews some of the top online resources which may be of immense value to students and educators in informing prospective quitters.
Online Resources
Image: Malta Medical Students' Association
TryToStop.org http://trytostop.org This is an excellent internet resource website maintained by the Massachusetts department of public health. A design marvel in itself, the website features a 'quit wizard' and bulletin board. QuitWorks (http://quitworks.org) is its sister website and features interactive telephone-based coun selling. Teens against tobacco use (TATU) www.tatuusa.org The program is a vehicle for a school or community-based service-learning project to discourage teenagers from using tobacco products. It is sponsored by the American lung association. The website features an excellent fact sheet and Flash presentations aimed at teenagers. UCSF stop smoking site http://stopsmoking.ucsf.edu This is perhaps the best course available for cessation. Follow-up of all enrolled at regular intervals is unique to this service. Anybody willing to quit smoking can enrol on the course and personal information is kept confidential. Stop Smoking! http://www.on.lung.ca/nosmoking/ This website is maintained by the Canadian lung association. It features resources for smokers, teachers and students. There is an excellent and informative fact sheet. The website also features an excellent quitting program, 'Get on track'. To aid and inform prospective quitters, there is also a helpline and information centre. The website also indexes a number of informative links to other websites.
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QuitNet http://www.quitnet.com The website claims to be the web's original 'quit smoking' site and operates in association with the Boston university school of public health. The slogan 'Don't quit alone' is displayed prominently. The site also claims to have played a key role in over 3000 quitting successes. The website features an excellent free support forum. NetDoctor smoking resources http://community.netdoktor.com/ccs/uk/smo king/index.jsp This resource is a part of the NetDoctor portal www.netdoctor.co.uk.The resource website features an excellent community, a discussion board, an online coach and a 90 day quitting program. Giving Up Smoking http://www.givingupsmoking.co.uk This well-designed UK based resource website takes you to the interesting world of quitters. This beautiful website has all types of information a prospective quitter could imagine. There is an excellent fact sheet and an excellent FAQ section. The website also lists local facilities available throughout the UK. There is also an excellent section on news updates and a South Asian Community. Stop smoking center http://stopsmokingcenter.net/ StopSmokingCenter.Net has a professionally moderated support group for smokers, ex-smokers and supporters. Any review of Stop Smoking resources would not be complete without a mention of Nicotine Anonymous http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org, a notfor-profit US based organization which describes itself as 'a 12-step fellowship of men and women helping each other live nico tine-free lives' along the lines of the Alcoholics Anonymous '12 steps to achieve abstinence'. Vinod Scaria, medical student, Calicut medical college, Calicut, India, Chief editor, Internet health, Journal of Research, Application, Communication & Ethics vinodscaria@yahoo.co.in
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MEDICAL STUDENT INTERNATIONAL