uQuit Project goal

The primary aim of the project is to develop an advanced and sophisticated interactive computer program using knowledge engineering to promote and support smoking cessation among adolescents aged 15-19. In order to make the program effective, the developmental process will be accompanied by evaluations among users and experts. The secondary aim is to generate information on the effectiveness of the computer program. Finally, the ultimate goal of the project is to support local policy with regard to adolescents health and the prevention of smoking related diseases such as coronary heart disease, cancer and COPD.

Research info

uQuit is an academic project of the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam and the Katholieke Universiteit in Nijmegen.

uQuit has started as Ronen Azachi's idea for his thesis for a Master of Science degree in Artificial Intelligence at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. The project first known as "Smokey" has been changed to it's final name uQuit. The project has two main participants the knowledge engineers and the experts. At the Artificial Intelligence department at VU university in Amsterdam is where the application is being developed by Ronen Azachi under supervision of Prof. dr. Frank van Harmelen, the knowledge engineers. At the department of clinical psychology at the KUN university in Nijmegen is where the smoking expertise is put together by Eefje Knoop, Beatrijs de Lange under supervision of Dr. Rien Breteler and Dr. Regina van den Eijnden.

By the end of summer of 2004, 3 master thesis will be written concerning uQuit. One By Ronen Azachi, the development of uQuit as Artificial Intelligence computer application. The other two, from a clinical psychology viewpoint by Eefje Knoop and Beatrijs de Lange. 

October 2004

First version of uQuit has been launched in April. Until today, some 2100 users have registered by uQuit and have used uQuit. Two new clinical psychology students have joined the team, Ricki van Wessel and Maarten Schwenk. Working together on implementing a new version for uQuit which will be also targeted on adults. The new version will be ready in the begin of 2005.
 

If you would like to receive more information about the project and results you can contact at info@uquit.nl

People behind uQuit

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Partners

Acknowledgments

Website:   webmaster: Ronen Azachi

               Text: Eefje Knoop

Copyright © 2004 Ronen Azachi. All rights reserved.