title: Role of pharmacological aids and social supports in smoking cessation associated with Quebec's 2000 Quit and Win campaign.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This evaluation of the 2000 Quit and Win campaign in the province of Quebec, Canada, assessed the use and effectiveness of pharmacological aids, social support, and support resources (clinic program, support groups, books, telephone support) among contest participants. The reach of the contest was 1.3% of adult smokers: 20,400 participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six months after the contest ended, 3,033 randomly selected participants completed telephone interviews about their smoking status and their use of nonform aids, social support, support resources, and pharmacological aids during their cessation attempt. Those who were abstinent from smoking were then reinterviewed 6 months later, that is, 12 months after the contest.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cessation rates were 66% at contest end, 36% at 6 months, and 22% at 12 months. Heavier smokers were somewhat more likely to have quit. Overall, 41% of respondents used any form of aid (support resources and pharmacological aids) in the first 6 months; among these, 42% used bupropion and 38% used nicotine patches. Those using bupropion were more likely to successfully quit smoking. Successful quitters rated the social support received from their buddy as more useful than did relapsers, and social support was unrelated to the use of pharmacological aids.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that adequate investment in population-wide Quit and Win programs that provide a variety of appropriate aids to smokers, including social support and pharmacological products, can improve the reach of smokers.
authors.affiliation: Unité de santé internationale, Université de Montréal, Canada.
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gomez-Zamudio
authors.forename: Lise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Renaud
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Labrie
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Massé
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pineau
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gagnon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004358:Drug Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011792:Quebec; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods; D012944:Social Support