A randomized trial of a proactive cellular telephone intervention for smokers living with HIV/AIDS.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of an innovative smoking cessation intervention targeted to a multiethnic, economically disadvantaged HIV-positive population.


METHODS
A two-group randomized clinical trial compared a smoking cessation intervention delivered by cellular telephone with usual care approach.


METHODS
Current smokers from a large, inner city HIV/AIDS care center were recruited and randomized to receive either usual care or a cellular telephone intervention. The usual care group received brief physician advice to quit smoking, targeted self-help written materials and nicotine replacement therapy. The cellular telephone intervention received eight counseling sessions delivered via cellular telephone in addition to the usual care components. Smoking-related outcomes were assessed at a 3-month follow-up.


RESULTS
The trial had 95 participants and 77 (81.0%) completed the 3-month follow-up assessment. Analyses indicated biochemically verified point prevalence smoking abstinence rates of 10.3% for the usual care group and 36.8% for the cellular telephone group; participants who received the cellular telephone intervention were 3.6 times (95% confidence interval, 1.3-9.9) more likely to quit smoking compared with participants who received usual care (P = 0.0059).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that individuals living with HIV/AIDS are receptive to, and can be helped by, smoking cessation treatment. In addition, smoking cessation treatment tailored to the special needs of individuals living with HIV/AIDS, such as counseling delivered by cellular telephone, can significantly increase smoking abstinence rates over that achieved by usual care.
Vidrine
Damon J
DJ
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas 77230-1439, USA. dvidrine@mdanderson.org
Arduino
Roberto C
RC
Lazev
Amy B
AB
Gritz
Ellen R
ER
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D040421:Cell Phone; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000379:methods; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data