Telephone counseling for population-based smoking cessation.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the options for use, efficiency, and effectiveness for structuring a population-based telephone smoking-cessation service.


METHODS
Callers (n=632) to a 1-800 number were randomized in a 2 (50-minute counseling with 2/6 calls) x 2 (pamphlet/booklet) design with print only control.


RESULTS
Six-month use of the service was 0.6% of adult smokers. Service promotion cost 31.02 dollars/person. Telephone counseling resulted in higher continued abstinence (5%) than did print only (1%), P<.05. Amount of print and calls did not increase cessation. Six calls resulted in lower completion rates than 2 (22% vs 56%, P<.05).


CONCLUSIONS
For planning, consider 1% use, low-cost promotion, pamphlet, 50-minute initial counseling plus 2 follow-ups, and minimize call-attempts.
Smith
Patricia M
PM
Department of Health Studies and Gerontology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
Cameron
Roy
R
McDonald
Paul W
PW
Kawash
Beth
B
Madill
Cheryl
C
Brown
K Steven
KS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D013689:Telephone