Development and validation of the online social support for smokers scale.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Social networks play an important role in smoking. Provision of social support during cessation is a cornerstone of treatment. Online social networks for cessation are ubiquitous and represent a promising modality for smokers to receive and provide the support necessary for cessation. There are no existing measures specific to online social support for smoking cessation.

Objective

The objective was to develop a measure of social support to be used in online smoking cessation treatment research.

Methods

Initial items for the Online Social Support for Smokers Scale (OS4) were based on existing theory and scales delineated in various taxonomies. Preliminary field analysis (N = 73) was conducted on 23 initial items to optimize the scale. Further development was

SUBMITTER: Graham AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3222172 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature