A randomized controlled trial of Telephone Counseling with smokeless tobacco users: the ChewFree Minnesota study.
Although a considerable body of evidence supports telephone quit lines for smoking cessation, much less is known about the effectiveness of proactive Telephone Counseling with smokeless tobacco (ST) users. We conducted a randomized controlled trial comparing Telephone Counseling with the distribution of a self-help manual for ST cessation. We recruited 406 adult ST users throughout the state of Minnesota and randomized them to receive either: (a) a self-help manual (Manual only) or (b) a self-help manual plus proactive telephone-based cessation counseling (Telephone Counseling). The telephone-based treatment included up to four calls in support of quitting, and personalized various cognitive and behavioral strategies that are generally considered effective in tobacco cessation (such as setting a quit date, examining patterns of use, developing stress reduction skills, avoiding known triggers to use). Participants were surveyed by phone at 3 and 6 months to assess both point prevalence and continued abstinence. Prolonged abstinence from all tobacco was 6.8% and 30.9% (p < .001) at 3 months and 9.8% and 30.9% (p < .001) at 6 months in Manual only and Telephone Counseling, respectively. We found older age, lower dependency, and increased readiness predicted quitting success. Proactive telephone-based counseling is an effective strategy for improving cessation rates among ST users. Future research should determine the components contributing to the intervention success.
Boyle
Raymond G
RG
Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA. Boy10042@umn.edu
Enstad
Chris
C
Asche
Stephen E
SE
Thoele
Merry J
MJ
Sherwood
Nancy E
NE
Severson
Herbert H
HH
Ebbert
Jon
J
Solberg
Leif I
LI
D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D010174:Pamphlets; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D012944:Social Support; D013689:Telephone; D013997:Time Factors; D020340:Tobacco Use Cessation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless; D016896:Treatment Outcome