title: Self-help interventions for smoking cessation.
abstract: Self-help interventions for smoking cessation are an important bridge between the clinical and public health approaches to smoking cessation. The current literature on self-help interventions is encouraging but incomplete. Although their quit rates are lower than those of more intensive programs, self-help interventions could have a large public health impact because of their potential for widespread distribution. Studies comparing self-help to more intensive treatment suggest that long-term cessation rates for self-help programs are potentially as high as rates for face-to-face interventions, with lower quit rates for self-help programs that are likely due to differences in program adherence. Tailored materials and personalized adjuncts (e.g., written feedback or telephone counseling) that promote program adherence may increase cessation rates.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Studies, Group Health Cooperative, Seattle, Washington 98101.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Curry
mesh_terms: D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome