Nicotine vs placebo gum in general medical practice.
Three hundred fifteen smokers who attended a family practice clinic and wished to quit smoking were assigned in a random, double-blind manner to receive either nicotine (2 mg) or placebo gum. Smokers initially received brief advice from a physician and nurse, a slide presentation and written materials (29 to 35 minutes), and a single follow-up visit (12 to 20 minutes) one week after cessation. After corrections for marital status and income, 10% of those who received nicotine gum and 7% of those who received placebo gum reported continuous abstinence for 11 months and passed observer and biochemical verification (this difference was not statistically significant). We conclude that, when used in a nonselected group of smokers along with a brief intervention in a general medical practice, the pharmacologic effects of nicotine gum to increase cessation are either small or nonexistent.
Hughes
J R
JR
Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington.
Gust
S W
SW
Keenan
R M
RM
Fenwick
J W
JW
Healey
M L
ML
D000328:Adult; D002638:Chewing Gum; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009538:Nicotine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos; D011897:Random Allocation; D012907:Smoking / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D002638:Chewing Gum; D010919:Placebos; D009538:Nicotine