Effectiveness of a quit and win contest with a low-income population.
BACKGROUND
In a two-group quasi-experimental study, we evaluated the impact of a quit and win contest on quitting among low-income tobacco users and identified contest elements used by successful quitters. Low-income tobacco users have been largely untouched by tobacco cessation approaches.


METHODS
A volunteer sample of 248 low-income tobacco users were recruited from quit and win contest registrants (treatment group). A random sample of 290 low-income tobacco users who had not entered the contest were recruited using random digit dialing (control group). Telephone interviews were conducted with both groups at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. Seven-day point prevalence measured self-reported quitting and urine cotinine assessed confirmed quitting.


RESULTS
On average, quit and win study participants were 3.5 times more likely than controls to self-report quitting and 12.8 times more likely to demonstrate confirmed quitting after controlling for baseline differences in stage of change, age, education, and marital status. The use of specific contest elements was not related to successful quitting.


CONCLUSIONS
The overall quit rates in the treatment group were higher than those in the control group. The results are promising given that low-income tobacco users are generally less likely to succeed in quitting.
Tobacco Policy Research Program, College of Nursing, University of Kentucky College of Nursing, Lexington, KY 40536-0232, USA. ejhahn00@email.uky.edu
Ellen J
EJ
Hahn
Mary Kay
MK
Rayens
Costel
C
Chirila
Carol A
CA
Riker
Todd P
TP
Paul
Todd A
TA
Warnick
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010358:Patient Participation; D011203:Poverty; D011336:Probability; D012008:Recurrence; D012016:Reference Values; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors