Smokeless Tobacco Quitters Get the Edge with Agile Health's STOMP Expansion

By Michael Mayday
TMCnet Contributing Writer

Smokeless tobacco is often the less-discussed slice of the anti-tobacco policy pie, but it's no less important. As the American Cancer Society reports, over 8.2 million — roughly the population of Virginia — partake in smokeless tobacco. It's dangerous habit known to heighten the risk of cancer, dependency and a variety of dental diseases.

So there's an obvious incentive for companies to help their employees quit. That's where Agile (News - Alert) Health steps in. The mobile healthcare engagement company, one which aims to drive sustained behavior change, has added smokeless tobacco support to its Kick Buts Smoking Cessation program.

Agile's smokeless tobacco builds on its STOMP Health Message Engine, an interactive program aimed at providing members with the knowledge base, motivation, and reminders they need to quit smoking, or, as the case may be, using smokeless tobacco, once and for all.

This messaging program takes place over a six-month period, and helps members to develop their own personalized plans for quitting, what they'll face while quitting — like withdrawal — and support in the event a member relapses or has a craving. Users can also depend on support from integrated social networks like Facebook (News - Alert). The gives users a two-way dialogue for when they take their first step to a healthier lifestyle. 

"It's like having your own personal counselor in your pocket when and where you need it," Agile Health President Scott Werntz said in a prepared statement.

The smoker's variation of the Kick Buts program is moderately successful, with a medically verified success rate of 10.7 percent out of 5,800 participants. For contrast, the control group in the study had a 4.9 percent success rate. The program has passed two clinical trials in New Zealand and the UK, and is considered an effective means of support by the Cochrane Library.

There are differences between the smoker's version of the Kick Buts program and the smokeless user's version, but those differences are mostly adjusted health information and demographic information.