Quit and Win smoking cessation contest for Wisconsin college students.
OBJECTIVE
To determine effectiveness of smoking cessation contests at 3 Wisconsin colleges.


METHODS
Pre-post program evaluation, with 6-month follow-up.


METHODS
Two-year technical college, private 4-year college, and state university in spring and fall of 2000.


METHODS
One hundred fifty-two college smokers.


METHODS
Students participated in 7-week stop-smoking contests. Successful quitters were eligible for prizes. Smoking status was assessed at 6-month follow-up by telephone survey.


RESULTS
The cessation rate for 18- to 24-year-olds was 30% at the end of the contests. At the 6-month followup, 12% of participants were not smoking. Participants who smoked fewer cigarettes per month were more likely to quit smoking at the end of the contests. Although no difference was found between 2- and 4-year college participants, heavier smokers from 4-year colleges were more likely to quit.


CONCLUSIONS
Because of their similarity to effective smoking promotions, contests should be considered a cost-effective strategy for this age group.
Rooney
Brenda L
BL
Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, 1900 South Ave, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA. blrooney@gundluth.org
Silha
Paula
P
Gloyd
Jeff
J
Kreutz
Rose
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001363:Awards and Prizes; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology