title: Support person intervention to promote smoker utilization of the QUITPLAN Helpline.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Effective cessation services are greatly underutilized by smokers. Only about 1.5% of smokers in Minnesota utilize the state-funded QUITPLAN Helpline. Substantial evidence exists on the role of social support in smoking cessation. In preparation for a large randomized trial, this study developed and piloted an intervention for an adult nonsmoking support person to motivate and encourage a smoker to call the QUITPLAN Helpline.
  
  
  METHODS
  The support person intervention was developed based on Cohen's theory of social support. It consisted of written materials and three consecutive, weekly, 20-30 minute telephone sessions. Smoker calls to the QUITPLAN Helpline were documented by intake staff.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants were 30 support people (93% women, 97% Caucasian, mean age 49). High rates of treatment compliance were observed, with 28 (93%) completing all three telephone sessions. The intervention was ranked as somewhat or very helpful by 77% of the support people, and 97% would definitely or probably recommend the program. Five smokers linked to a support person called the QUITPLAN Helpline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An intervention using natural support networks to promote smoker utilization of the QUITPLAN Helpline is both acceptable to a support person and feasible. A controlled randomized trial is under way to examine the efficacy of the intervention.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Charlton 6-273, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. patten.christi@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Christi A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Patten
authors.forename: Christina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Tabetha A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Brockman
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Decker
authors.forename: Kari J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Christine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sinicrope
authors.forename: Kenneth P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Offord
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lichtenstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D013685:Telecommunications / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*