title: Effects of internet-based voucher reinforcement and a transdermal nicotine patch on cigarette smoking.
abstract: Nicotine replacement products are commonly used to promote smoking cessation, but alternative and complementary methods may increase cessation rates. The current experiment compared the short-term effects of a transdermal nicotine patch to voucher-based reinforcement of smoking abstinence on cigarette smoking. Fourteen heavy smokers (7 men and 7 women) completed the four 5-day phases of the study: baseline, patch treatment, voucher treatment, and return to baseline. The order of the two treatment phases was counterbalanced across participants. In the patch treatment condition, participants wore a 14-mg transdermal nicotine patch every day. In the voucher treatment condition, participants received vouchers contingent on abstinence from smoking, defined as producing carbon monoxide (CO) readings of < or =4 parts per million. Participants e-mailed two video clips per day showing them breathing into a CO monitor and the resulting CO reading to clinic staff. In the voucher treatment, 24% of samples were negative, and 5% of samples were negative in the patch treatment. Results suggest that contingent vouchers were more effective than transdermal nicotine patches in promoting abstinence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Florida, PO Box 112250, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: Irene M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Glenn
authors.forename: Jesse
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dallery
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D001944:Breath Tests; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000097:blood; D016287:Computer Peripherals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014040:Token Economy; D014741:Video Recording
chemical_list: D009538:Nicotine; D002248:Carbon Monoxide