More Information on ActiveStop

14 weeks in all. There is preparation phase lasting 1 week, followed by a Quit phase lasting 12 weeks. Finally there is a follow-up stage lasting 1 week.

Registration onto the programme is free to anyone giving up smoking with NICORETTE^® .

The Prep phase allows you to prepare and plan to stop smoking. Stopping smoking is a difficult task and so the more you can do to prepare yourself, the greater your chance is of success. The Prep phase takes you through a number of exercises to help you plan and prepares you mentally for the challenge. This is why we encourage everyone who hasn’t already stopped smoking when they register with ActiveStop to start with the Prep phase.

The preparation phase is recommended, however, if you do not wish to take part in the preparation phase you can choose to start the quit phase immediately.

The Start date is the day that you begin the programme in the Prep phase, whereas the Quit date is the day you stop smoking. When you register and choose to start the programme with the Prep phase, your Quit date will always be the following Monday and you will be unable to change the Quit date. If you choose to skip the Prep phase then you will be able to select your Quit date from the drop down menu. Both the Start date and the Quit date are always Mondays, one week apart.

If you have not already started using NICORETTE^® and are still smoking, then you should definitely choose to do the Prep phase. You will feel more confident about stopping once you complete the Prep phase, and you’ll be more prepared for the challenges ahead.

Yes, provided that it’s not more than 28 days since you stopped smoking and started using NICORETTE^® . When you register you will be asked a few extra questions that will tailor some aspects of the programme to your situation.

No, the programme is specifically designed to support people who give up smoking with the aid of NICORETTE^® . We ask you to validate that you are using the product by entering the batch number from your pack of NICORETTE^® .

A Batch Number is a unique series of code printed onto every pack of NICORETTE^® . As the ActiveStop programme is specifically designed to be used with NICORETTE^® , we ask you to validate that you are using the product by entering the Batch number from your pack.

The batch number is shown on the bottom of the outer carton. Please note the batch number on the inner packaging will not be accepted. Click on the type of NICORETTE^® product you are using to see where the Batch Number is located on the pack.

• NICORETTE® Patch
• NICORETTE^® Gum
• NICORETTE^® Inhalator
• NICORETTE^® Microtab
• NICORETTE^® Nasal spray

Unfortunately not. ActiveStop is a complete behavioural intervention programme designed to deal with the problems that can occur during a quit attempt. A mobile phone and a valid email address are both required in order to deliver the programme effectively, and to help you quit smoking for good.

If you have forgotten your password you will have the option to reset it from the Login page. You will be taken through a couple of checks to verify who you are, including your date of birth and the answer to the security question that you set on registering. You will then be able to set a new password for yourself. If you have forgotten the answer to your security question then you will receive an email to allow you to reset your password.

The security question, which you will have chosen during registration, will be asked in the event that you forget your password and will be used to verify who you are. Once you have completed this step we will allow you to change your password online. We need to ask this question to keep your data secure.

You are able to change your password, email address or any other personal information by logging on to the ActiveStop Website and going to ‘My Details’ and then ‘About Me’. Here you can adjust your details accordingly.

Many people have a business email address and a personal one that they use at home. We ask for two addresses to accommodate those people who wish to receive their daily emails in their business email in-box during the working week, and their personal in-box at the weekends. You can select the address you would like emails to be sent for each day of the week. To set these options, visit ‘Communications Options’ under the My Details section

When you get a new mobile you can change the number registered by logging onto the website http://www.activestop.co.uk and going to ‘My Details’ and then ‘About Me’. You will then be able to receive the text messages again. In the meantime you can still call the Craving Help-Line from any other phone. The system won’t recognise the number so it will ask you to enter the telephone number of your registered mobile phone i.e. the one you have lost. Once you have updated your details on-line, please use your new mobile phone number.

You can access your daily web-pages, Diary and Progress Monitor by typing: http://www.activestop.co.uk into the address bar on any computer connected to the internet. Click ‘Log On’ in the top right hand corner of the screen. Enter your user name (your email address) and password, and view the site as normal.

It depends on your mobile provider and the contract you have. You need to have one that allows you to receive and make calls when you are travelling to other countries. To call the Craving Help-Line while overseas you will need to call a U.K. number. Depending on your mobile provider and plan, this may incur charges.

The Craving Help-Line number to call from outside the UK is +44 207 023 3770

You can access the daily web-pages by logging on from any internet enabled PC by going to the web address http://www.activestop.co.uk and logging on using your user name (your email address) and password.

No, the text messages are an integral part of the programme. It’s designed to work with the text messaging and without them the programme would not be so effective.

Internet Explorer Users:

Go to the View menu at the top of the screen and select Text Size. There are 5 options: Largest, Larger, Medium, Smaller, and Smallest. Choose the setting that is most comfortable to view. (Medium is the default setting).

Firefox Users:

During the Prep phase you’ll record every cigarette you smoke on a specific day on your 'Habit Tracker card', along with the context and your mood for each one. You’ll need to download your 'Habit Tracker card' and print it off. It’s best to cut it down to make it fit your cigarette pack so that it’s easy to carry around and record when you’re smoking. The next day you’ll be asked to enter the data you recorded in your 'Diary'. We will calculate your most ‘at risk’ times and contexts, to help you understand your habit.

If you submitted the 'Habit Tracker' before you completed entering all cigarettes, the results shown will be incorrect and misleading. You can edit and add details into the 'Habit Tracker' by visiting the 'Smoking Profile' section under 'My Details'.

You will only be able to edit the 'Habit Tracker' on the day you first enter it.

We will ask you to choose up to six friends, colleagues or family members ('Supporters') who you would like to help support you with stopping smoking. Before you nominate them you should check that they are happy to do this and take a note of their email address. There will be a specific task for you to nominate them, but you can update this information in the 'My Details' section at any time.

We’ll contact them by email and give them some tips on how best to support you with quitting.

Please go to the 'My Details' section of the website to change the email address. Remember to click on Submit to save your entry.

You can change all your personal details by Logging onto the ActiveStop Website and clicking on ‘My Details’ and then ‘About Me’. Then simply scroll through to the section and adjust the details accordingly. Click Save to save the new details entered.

So that we do not disturb you at inappropriate times we ask you to set your wake-up and sleep times. We will never contact you until at least 30 minutes after your wake-up time and we’ll send you your log-off text no later than two hours before your sleep time.

Go to ‘My Details’ and choose the ‘Communications Options’ from the list on the left hand side. You can then change your ‘Wake and Sleep Times’. Press Submit to save.

Unfortunately you are only able to go back up to two days in the programme. The ActiveStop programme works on the principle that quitting smoking is a big task and we have broken it down into manageable parts giving you the information you need at the right time. For these reasons the programme doesn't allow you to look back too far, since it's important that we keep you focused on what's necessary now without asking too much of you at any one time

We will continue to send you your Daily email with the link to the website but when you click on any of these it will take you to the day of the programme you are currently on. However, you will be able to look back at the previous 2 days content and complete the Diary for these days. You will not be able to go back further than this because the ActiveStop programme is broken it down into manageable parts giving you the information you need at the right time. For this reason the programme doesn't allow you to look back too far, since it's important that we keep you focused on what's necessary now without asking too much of you at any one time.

The Craving Help-line is a ready made coping strategy that will help you deal with your cravings. Throughout the programme you will be encouraged to prepare coping strategies for times when you normally smoke, but sometimes cravings can occur unexpectedly and you may be caught out. This is when you should call the Craving Help-Line straightaway, as it will help you cope with that craving. When you call, you’ll hear a menu of options to help tailor the type of message to how you are feeling or the situation you are in. For example if you are stressed, choose that option on the menu and you will hear a message that will help you to relax. Since you only have to listen, you can call anytime and anywhere without being worried about being overheard. It’s an intelligent system and won’t play you the same message twice - so call the Craving Help-Line (when calling outside of the UK call +44 207 023 3770) whenever you need help.

If it’s within the last 2 days you will be able to complete the diary entry. However if it’s more than 2 days, you should focus only on that day and perhaps the previous day. The ActiveStop programme works on the principle that quitting smoking is a big task and we have broken it down into manageable parts giving you the information you need at the right time. It’s about taking one day at a time and focusing getting through that day smoke free so looking back too far doesn’t really help you.

Once you have pressed Submit and your entry is saved you cannot go back and make any changes. If you have missed a Diary entry then you can go back to the last two days and submit an entry for these days. They will be showing red on your Diary calendar to show that you have not submitted entries on these days. You can go back and read all your diary entries by clicking on the days in the Diary calendar.

When you text back to say that you have smoked, you will receive a telephone call. Don’t worry, no-one will scold you! All that will happen is that you will be given some information and asked whether or not you want to stay on the programme. This is done by interactive voice response (IVR) telephony and not by a person. If you are unsure whether you want to follow the Golden Rule, to give up again straightaway following a slip-up, you will hear some more information to help you make up your mind.

There are two reasons why this might happen. The first is that you have gone back to smoking. If that’s the case you should leave the programme by opting to “Unsubscribe” through your daily email. The other reason is that you feel you no longer need to use NICORETTE^® . However the programme is designed to follow the recommended dosage for NICORETTE^® , and by not following this you are not giving yourself the best chance of succeeding in stopping smoking for good. The 12 week course has come about through many years of research and shows that this is the optimum length of time that you should use the product for.

You can update the NICORETTE^® product you are using by going to the My NICORETTE^® section of the daily webpage and choosing NICORETTE^® Usage

Yes, you should have no problems using your Mac as long as it is connected to the internet.

The Craving Help-line is a ready made coping strategy that will help you deal with your cravings. Throughout the programme you will be encouraged to prepare coping strategies for times when you normally smoke, but sometimes cravings can occur unexpectedly and you may be caught out. This is when you should call the Craving Help-Line straightaway, as it will help you cope with that craving. When you call, you’ll hear a menu of options to help tailor the type of message to how you are feeling or the situation you are in. For example if you are stressed, choose that option on the menu and you will hear a message that will help you to relax. Since you only have to listen, you can call anytime and anywhere without being worried about being overheard. It’s an intelligent system and won’t play you the same message twice - so call +44 207 023 3770 whenever you need.

Normal call charges will apply and the actual cost will depend on the contract you have with your mobile phone provider. In general the messages last for 3-4 minutes – the typical length of time a craving will last.

You need to check with your mobile phone provider that your mobile is enabled for use outside the UK. You can then call +44 207 023 3770 when you are overseas.

You can leave the programme anytime by choosing the ‘unsubscribe’ option from the daily email or the daily webpage, or by clicking the ‘Programme End’ option under My Details. If you have gone back to smoking you may also choose to leave the programme in the signing off procedure. When you receive the text message from ActiveStop asking you if you have smoked, text back to say that you have. ActiveStop will then call you back and when you are asked if you want to stay on the programme, you can opt to say no. This will also end your participation.

The day starts with a text message reminding you that you will be smoke free today and motivating you for the day ahead. You will need to log-on to the programme and complete several tasks each day. For example, you will be asked to think about how the previous day went and think about what went well and what was difficult. This will help prepare you for the challenges ahead and make you better equipped for dealing with the inevitable cravings that will occur.

As well as you providing us with information, we recognise the need to keep you motivated during the quitting process. ActiveStop lets you monitor your progress and see how not smoking is improving your quality of life. For example, the Progress Monitor tracks how long you have been smoke free, how many cigarettes you have not smoked, how much money you have saved and also what positive effects staying smoke free is having on your body.

Finally at the end of the day a text message will ask you if you have remained smoke free that day. If you have you will be sent a congratulatory message. If you text back to say that you have smoked, you will receive a telephone call. Do not worry, all is not lost! All that will happen is that you will be given some information and asked whether or not you want to stay on the programme. This is done by interactive voice response (IVR) telephony and not by a person. If you are unsure whether you want to follow the Golden Rule, to give up again straightaway following a slip-up, you will hear some more information to help you make up your mind.

The Habit Tracker

During the Preparation phase you’ll record every cigarette you smoke on a specific day on your Habit Tracker card, along with the context and your mood for each one. You’ll need to download your Habit Tracker card and print it off. It’s best to cut it down to make it fit your cigarette pack so that it’s easy to carry around and record when you’re smoking. The next day you’ll be asked to enter the data you recorded in your Diary. We will calculate your most ‘at risk’ times and contexts, to help you understand your habit.

Supporters

We will ask you to choose up to six friends, colleagues or family members (Supporters) who you would like to help support you with stopping smoking. Before you nominate them you should check that they are happy to do this and take a note of their email address. There will be a specific task for you to nominate them, but you can update this information in the My Details section at any time. We’ll contact them by email and give them some tips on how best to support you with quitting.

My Wake and Sleep Times

So that we do not disturb you at inappropriate times we ask you to set your wake-up and sleep times. We will never contact you until at least 30 minutes after your wake-up time and we’ll send you your log-off text no later than two hours before your sleep time.

My Reason for Quitting

When you register with ActiveStop we will ask you to call a number to record in your own voice your reason(s) for giving up smoking. At any time, if need a motivation boost or simply want to remind yourself of why you have stopped smoking you can call the Cravings Helpline (when calling outside the UK call +44 207 023 3770) and select the appropriate option to listen to your recording. This will help refocus and remotivate you during your quit attempt.