Promoting repeat tobacco dependence treatment: are relapsed smokers interested?
BACKGROUND
Promotion of repeat tobacco dependence treatment among relapsed smokers interested in "recycling" (repeat quit attempt) may be a promising approach to increase quit rates.


OBJECTIVE
To report relapsed smokers' interest in recycling and their treatment preferences.


METHODS
Descriptive analysis of a population of relapsed smokers who were randomized to receive a recycling intervention strategy to increase tobacco dependence treatment rates, as part of a randomized controlled trial at 5 Veterans Affairs medical centers.


METHODS
Individuals prescribed a tobacco dependence medication in 2002 were eligible and were identified from the Department of Veterans Affairs Pharmacy Benefits Management database. Intervention group participants (n = 951) were contacted for a standardized telephone interview approximately 6 months after the prescription fill date to assess smoking status, interest in recycling, and treatment preferences. Bivariate analyses and generalized linear mixed-model regressions were used to describe outcomes.


RESULTS
The response rate to the intervention telephone call was 62% (586/951), at which 61% (357/586) of respondents had relapsed. Almost two thirds of relapsed smokers were interested in recycling within 30 days. Of these, 91% wanted behavioral or pharmacologic smoking cessation treatment, and 64% wanted behavioral and pharmacologic treatment. In multivariate analyses, independent predictors of interest in recycling within 30 days included black race, lower smoking level, and greater number of smoking-related medical conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
Most smokers who attempt to quit but relapse want to quit again right away, and most are interested in receiving behavioral and pharmacologic treatment.
Fu
Steven S
SS
Section of General Internal Medicine, Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research (VA Health Services Research & Development Center of Excellence), Veterans Affairs Medical Center (152/2E), Minneapolis, MN 55417, USA. steven.fu@va.gov
Partin
Melissa R
MR
Snyder
Annamay
A
An
Lawrence C
LC
Nelson
David B
DB
Clothier
Barbara
B
Nugent
Sean
S
Willenbring
Mark L
ML
Joseph
Anne M
AM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States