A deposit contract method to deliver abstinence reinforcement for cigarette smoking.
Eight smokers were randomly assigned to a deposit contract ($50.00) or to a no-deposit group. Using a reversal design, participants could recoup their deposit (deposit group) or earn vouchers (no-deposit group) for smoking reductions and abstinence (breath carbon monoxide [CO] < or =4 parts per million) during treatment phases. Treatment was delivered via a novel Internet-based method to monitor smoking status. Although equivalent decreases in breath CO and abstinence were observed during treatment in both groups, $178.50 in vouchers were distributed to participants in the no-deposit group, whereas a small surplus remained in the deposit group. A deposit contract method may represent a cost-effective model to deliver abstinence reinforcement for cigarette smoking.
Dallery
Jesse
J
Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainsville 32611, USA. dallery@ufl.edu
Meredith
Steven
S
Glenn
Irene M
IM
D000328:Adult; D001944:Breath Tests; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000191:economics; D014040:Token Economy