Association between the engagement of relatives in a behavioural group intervention for smoking cessation and higher quit rates at 6-, 12- and 24-month follow-ups.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness of a behavioural group intervention for smoking cessation, which included as its most original feature the recommendation to participate with a relative or close friend.


METHODS
A total of 1,060 subjects entered the programme, which consisted of 9 group sessions over a period of 5 weeks. The intervention consisted of a modified version of the Five-Day Plan, the main differences being the use of behavioural therapy techniques and small group work, and the addition of 4 weekly booster sessions. About two thirds of the participants came with a relative or close friend. Long-term abstinence from smoking was assessed with follow-up telephone interviews.


RESULTS
Very few subjects were lost to follow-ups (9.2% at 6 months, 9.7% at 1 year, 10.8% at 2 years). The observed quit rates were 42.6% at 6 months, 35.5% at 1 year and 32% at 2 years. When considering as smokers all subjects who were lost to follow-ups, quit rates were also satisfactory (38.7% at 6 months, 32.1% at 1 year and 28.6% at 2 years). The main predictors of a good outcome were being male, smoking less than 20 cigarettes per day, having started smoking after 18 years of age, having made previous quitting attempts, not having a history of unsuccessful participation to smoking cessation interventions and attending the sessions with a relative or close friend.


CONCLUSIONS
Although some limitations inherent in the design of our study suggest caution in interpreting the results and in making comparisons, the long-term effectiveness of the intervention was satisfactory. The inclusion of a relative or close friend appeared useful. This simple and inexpensive strategy may deserve recommendation, though in the future it should be tested in controlled trials.
Picardi
A
A
Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy. picardi@iss.it
Bertoldi
S
S
Morosini
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005196:Family Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000628:therapy*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*