SBIR-STTR Award

The present proposal is to develop and evaluate a system for treating the large number of smokers who wish to quit smoking, feel unable to quit on their own, but still refuse to attend face-to-face smoking cessation programs. The system combines technologies developed by Behavioral Health Systems, Inc. (BHS) and Computers in Psychiatry/Psychology, Inc. (CPP). BHS has developed a software and computer conferencing system that helps smokers, seated at a computer terminal, to formulate and carry out an individualized smoking cessation plan. CPP has developed an automated, interactive telephone system that uses voice synthesis and recognition, and automatic dialing and answering to communicate with people participating in health promotion programs. By putting the contents of the BHS program on the CPP telephone system,BHS can offer a powerful, personalized smoking cessation program to any smoker with an available telephone for as many months as the smoker wishes to participate. A very large group could be treated using a minimum of professional time.The effectiveness of the system in getting smokers to participate, and then to quit smoking, will be compared with the effectiveness of a traditional smoking cessation approach. The convenience, affordability, privacy, and effectiveness of the proposed system may make it a useful tool for treating a number of behavioral disorders.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

During Phase II, Behavioral Health Systems, Inc., will further test and enhance a smoking cessation program that can reach those smokers who wish to quit smoking, feel unable to quit alone, yet do not wish to attend face-to-face smoking cessation sessions. The program uses an interactive, automated telephone system, employing natural-sounding, digitized voice and touch-tone recognition of the caller's responses. It carries out over a period of weeks or months smoking cessation programs individually tailored to each caller's history, responses to questions, and progress. The program is available at all times and requires only a touch-tone telephone. The convenience, affordability, privacy, and effectiveness of the system may make it a viable way to offer personalized behavioral treatment to a large number of smokers, using a minimum of professional time. The program will be evaluated for its ability to attract and assist smokers. New dialogues about nicotine gum will be evaluated for their ability to help nicotine-dependent smokers.

Anticipated Results:
The system will be licensed to health maintenance organizations, corporate health offices, and medical practices to help smokers who would like to quit smoking, cannot quit alone, but do not wish to attend face-to-face treatment programs.National Heart, Lung, And Blood Institute (NHLBI)