Development of Personal Computer Based Smoking Cessation Program for Healthcare Managers in Factories and Schools

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for cancer and vascular disease but, a correctable habit. Despite widespread recognition of the hazardous health effects of smoking, Korean men and adolescents' smoking rates are not decreasing and is, emerging as a public health problem. Health care managers in schools and factories are expected to play a critical role in smoking cessation. Health education is one important area that will benefit from using a personal computer (PC). To promote smoking cessation, specified and risk-based approaches are considered to encourage the motivation of smokers. METHODS: This smoking cessation software (CD-Rom) was developed for health care managers in schools and factories using Microsoft Visual Basic and Access. RESULTS: This program divided into two major categories. Part one is a library of various kinds of information about smoking such as articles, lecture notes, pictures, slides, mp3 and motion files. The other part was an autonomous smoking cessation prescription program. This program analyzed smokers' smoking pattern (using WHY test), nicotine addiction level (using Fagerstrom score), stress level (using BEPSI test), and smokers' confidence level. After input of smoker's history by oneself, the program showed smoking cessation prescription automatically in monitor or printer. CONCLUSION: Health care managers in schools and factories can be experts of smoking cessation easily with this program in their work places.