Smoking cessation, smoking reduction, and delayed quitting among smokers given nicotine patches and a self-help pamphlet.
Over-the-counter nicotine replacement raises questions regarding its "real world" efficacy. This was an open-label, prospective study of 223 smokers who received 42 free nicotine patches and a self-help booklet via shopping mall distribution. The overall quit rate 6 months following distribution of the nicotine patches was 22% (50/223), almost the same quit rate found 6 weeks following patch distribution (21%, 47/223). Twelve percent (27/223) were abstinent at both 6 weeks and 6 months. Among the 83 participants who did not quit, cigarettes smoked per day dropped from 28 to 18. A substantial subgroup of quitters (14%) who, although still smoking at 6 weeks, were smoke free at 6 months, and it appears they had purposefully delayed a serious quit attempt. These results support the usefulness of nicotine patches in helping smokers quit, even with only minimal intervention such as a self-help manual.
Jolicoeur
Denise G
DG
University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.
Richter
Kimber P
KP
Ahluwalia
Jasjit S
JS
Mosier
Michael C
MC
Resnicow
Ken
K
D005260:Female; D040261:Harm Reduction / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010174:Pamphlets; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013997:Time Factors
D009538:Nicotine