Secondary smoking prevention in a university setting: a randomized comparison of an experiential, theory-based intervention and a standard didactic intervention for increasing cessation motivation.
OBJECTIVE
College may represent an untapped opportunity to reach the growing number of student smokers who are at risk of progressing toward regular smoking. The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of a theory-based experiential intervention for increasing motivation to quit smoking and reducing smoking behavior.


METHODS
This study used a 3-arm, randomized design to examine the efficacy of an experiential secondary prevention intervention. The control groups included a traditional didactic smoking intervention and an experiential intervention on nutrition.


METHODS
The 2 primary dependent variables were change in self-reported intention to quit smoking, measured pre- and postintervention, and change in smoking behavior over the month following the intervention.


RESULTS
As hypothesized, the experiential smoking intervention was more effective than either control group in increasing immediate motivation to quit, but the effect was found only among female participants. At 1-month follow-up, both smoking interventions produced higher rates of smoking cessation and reduction than did the nutrition control condition.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings support the potential efficacy of an intensive experiential intervention for female smokers.
Simmons
Vani Nath
VN
Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33617, USA. nathv@moffitt.usf.edu
Brandon
Thomas H
TH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009042:Motivation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014495:Universities
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution