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ElectroMed Technologies Introduces Computerized
Wristwatch Designed to Help Smokers Quit
Memphis Silver Star News (December 17, 2002)
ElectroMed Technologies announced the introduction of The Quitting Time
Watch (QT-Watch), a computerized wristwatch that, in addition to date,
time and chronograph, provides "counseling" and the motivational support
smokers need to quit successfully. The QT-Watch is on exhibit this week at
the 2002 National Conference on Tobacco or Health in San Francisco.
"The medical community has known for a long time that personalized
counseling and motivation can make the difference between smoking
cessation success and failure," says Neil Perlman, MD, an expert in
smoking cessation and co-inventor of the QT-Watch. "Unfortunately, most
smokers are unable to adhere to the strict schedule of group counseling,
and personalized counselors can be expensive."
The QT-Watch was developed to give smokers immediate and long-term
positive reinforcement of their efforts to quit smoking. The QT-Watch
looks like an ordinary wristwatch, with standard functions such as time,
date and chronograph, but it also tracks cigarette use and displays
different messages every few minutes to encourage the wearer to quit
smoking, The messages are tailored to the individual smoker based upon the
user's current rate of smoking, the initial cigarette usage, and the
designated quit date.
"Most smoking cessation techniques show some level of success in
helping users achieve short-term successes in kicking the cigarette
habit," said Dr. Perlman. "The problem is that once the user has quit,
most programs stop offering support. As a result, patients end up going
back to cigarettes. The QT-Watch is the first product designed to help
smokers quit and then help them stay quit by providing long-term support.
The QT-Watch is based on proven cessation therapies and more than 10 years
of clinical experience.
The QT-Watch can be used alone, or programmed to work with other
popular smoking cessation therapies, including medications and nicotine
replacement patches and gum. Studies have found that the highest rates of
long-term success for patients trying to quit smoking have come when
motivational counseling was combined with other cessation techniques.
The QT-Watch was designed by Dr. Perlman, a practicing physician, board
certified in internal medicine, who specializes in smoking cessation
research, and Dan Mapes-Riordan, Ph.D., a research scientist, formerly
with NASA.
The QT-Watch received a 2002 "citation of Excellence" in the Innovation
category from the American Watch Guild.
Founded in 1999, ElectroMed Technologies is a manufacturer of portable
electronic devices designed to increase the health and well-being of their
users. For more information about the QT-Watch go to
www.QT-Watch.com or call
866/760-5311.
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