title: A family consultation intervention for health-compromised smokers.
abstract: Although spousal support predicts the success of a smoker's cessation efforts, "social-support" interventions based on teaching partners better support skills have had consistently disappointing results. We examined the potential utility of a family consultation (FAMCON) intervention based on family-systems principles in a treatment-development project involving 20 couples in which one partner (the primary smoker) continued to smoke despite having or being at significant risk for heart or lung disease. The 50% rate of stable abstinence achieved by primary smokers over at least 6 months exceeds benchmark success rates reported in the literature for other comparably intensive interventions, suggesting that a couple-focused intervention different in concept and format from social-support interventions tested in the past may hold promise for health-compromised smokers. The FAMCON approach appeared particularly well suited to female smokers and smokers whose partner also smoked--two subgroups at high risk for relapse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-0068, USA. varda@u.arizona.edu
authors.forename: Varda
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shoham
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rohrbaugh
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Trost
authors.forename: Myra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muramoto
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D019546:Couples Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D011340:Problem Solving; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D013598:Systems Theory