Impact of seasonality on recruitment, retention, adherence, and outcomes in a web-based smoking ces.

Graham AL, Cha S, Cobb NK, Fang Y, Niaura RS, Mushro A.
Journal of Medical Internet Research . 15(11): e249, 2013.

The objective of this study was to determine whether smokers recruited during the New Year period differ on measures of motivation and desire to quit, recruitment and retention rates, website utilization rates, and short-term cessation outcomes compared to smokers recruited at other times. Smokers visiting a Web-based cessation program during the New Year period were more likely to register for treatment and differ on several demographic variables, but showed similar patterns of treatment engagement, retention, follow-up, and short-term cessation outcomes compared with participants who visited the site during other periods of the year. These results allay scientific concerns about recruiting participants during this time frame and are reassuring for researchers conducting Web-based cessation trials.