Randomized controlled trial examining the effectiveness of a tailored self-help smoking-cessation intervention for postsecondary smokers.
OBJECTIVE
Between September 2002 and February 2003, the authors assessed the effectiveness of a new, age-tailored, self-help smoking-cessation program for college students.


METHODS
College student smokers (N = 216) from 6 Ontario universities participated.


METHODS
The researchers used a randomized controlled trial with a 3-month telephone follow-up. Interventions included a new program (Smoke|Quit), the Canadian Cancer Society's self-help program, and a usual care quit kit.


RESULTS
Intention-to-treat analysis of 7-day point prevalence cessation revealed quit rates of 11.4% for Smoke|Quit, 2.9% for the Cancer Society's program, and 5.6% for the usual care intervention (p < .05). Among nonquitters, 46.5% had made a quit attempt, and weekly consumption decreased from 54.01 to 42.08 cigarettes (p < .001) with no differences across interventions.


CONCLUSIONS
Making tailored, self-help programs widely available on campus may be an effective way to provide smoking-cessation support to a large segment of the young adult population.
Travis
Heather E
HE
Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Lawrance
Kelli-an G
KA
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D013689:Telephone; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult