A randomized trial comparing the effects of self-help materials and proactive telephone counseling on teen smoking cessation.
We conducted a 2-arm randomized trial to test the efficacy of self-help materials with or without proactive telephone counseling to increase cessation among teen smokers. Teen smokers (N = 402) recruited from 11 shopping malls and 1 amusement park in the southeastern United States were randomized to 1 of 2 groups: written self-help material plus video; or written self-help material, video, and telephone counseling. Cessation rates based on 7-day point-prevalent abstinence for the self-help and counseling arms were 11% and 16%, respectively (p = .25), at 4 months postbaseline and 19% and 21%, respectively (p = .80), at 8 months postbaseline. Sustained abstinence, reflecting 7-day abstinence at both time points, in the self-help and counseling arms was 7% and 9% (p = .59). Results suggest that minimal self-help cessation approaches that target youth have comparable success to that shown among adult smokers. However, refinements in telephone-counseling approaches may be needed to achieve the success observed in adult populations.
Lipkus
Isaac M
IM
Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27701, USA. lipku001@mc.duke.edu
McBride
Colleen M
CM
Pollak
Kathryn I
KI
Schwartz-Bloom
Rochelle D
RD
Tilson
Elizabeth
E
Bloom
Paul N
PN
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010174:Pamphlets; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013664:Teaching Materials; D013689:Telephone