March 20, 2012

15th World Conference on Tobacco or Health
March 20-24, 2012 (Singapore, Malaysia)
Title: SuperUsers of online social networks. Who are they and how can they promote cessation?
For more information: wctoh2012.org

January 17, 2012

ALISE Annual Conference
January 17-20, 2012 (Dallas, Texas) 
Title: A Content Analysis of an Online Support Group for People Living with Depression
For more information www.alise.org

February 07, 2012

Text Chat Gives Quitters a Live Coach in Their Pocket Anywhere, Anytime

TORONTO, ONT (February, 2012) Canadian Cancer Society expands their successful SMAT program (Short Messages Against Tobacco) with groundbreaking personalized tools.

For the first time quitters can have real-time text chats with a live Quit Coach. Text and Chat Integrated (TaChI) is the brainchild of Evolution Health and the Quebec division of Canadian Cancer Society.

SMS-based quit programs are growing in popularity but are typically automated. The TaChI platform takes tailored SMS to a new level. In addition to receiving personalized, automated SMS messages, quitters can now chat directly with live Quit Coaches via their mobile phone. Coaches manage conversations via TaChI's web interface.

The tailored text service sends registrants daily scheduled motivational smoking cessation messages and replies to keyword prompts. In addition, quitters have the option of texting a live Quit Coach. The coach accesses member messages through the online TaChi interface. Sylvie Poissant, Director of Prevention with the Quebec division of Canadian Cancer Society noted, "TaChI is one of the first programs of its kind. We are excited to see how participants respond to the free service and to see how the SMAT and its personalized tools, including live chat by mobile phone, can impact quit rates."

According to Statistics Canada, 37,000 Canadians die every year due to smoking related illnesses. Most smokers attempt to quit multiple times before a successful quit. A failed or successful quit could mean the difference between life and death for many Canadians.

"Getting support whenever and wherever you need it from trained professionals could make the difference between a successful quit and another failed attempt" says Trevor van Mierlo, CEO of Evolution Health. "This program could revolutionize how health care systems provide immediate support."

The TaChI innovation is being piloted first in smoking cessation and will be introduced to new health behavior change support programs in the coming months. The addition of live texting with a Health Coach is an innovative and exciting new idea that has can potentially lead to numerous health behaviour change programs. "Evolution Health is known to provide top of the line programs, research-based innovations," says Trevor van Mierlo. "The TaChi service will potentially lead to numerous studies that can not only validate the program itself but also pave the way for more live health support programs via SMS." Stay tuned for more programs and studies focused on the TaChi interface.

About Evolution Health Systems Inc.
Evolution helps make life changes possible. With over 10 years of research, Evolution uses online communities, professional health coaches, peer support, mobile health and web-based education to help people reach their health goals.

About the Canadian Cancer Society
The Canadian Cancer Society is a national community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is the eradication of cancer and the enhancement of the quality of life of people living with cancer.

For more information:
For more information about Evolution Health Systems, please contact Rachel Fournier: rfournier@evolutionhs.com or 416-644-8476 x222

For more information about the Quebec division of Canadian Cancer Society please contact Catherine Lavoie: clavoie@quebec.cancer.ca or 514-255-5151 x4512

January 25, 2012

Sorry doc, teens may trust their iPad more

University of Alberta researchers want teens who end up in the emergency room because of their drinking to think twice about alcohol’s effects.

Assistant professors Dr. Kathryn Dong and Dr. Amanda Newton are piloting a study into reasons and amounts teenagers drink, by way of an iPad survey the day after an ER visit...continue reading on Yahoo