Quitline cessation counseling for young adult smokers: a randomized clinical trial.
BACKGROUND
One in 5 young adults in the United States currently smoke, and young adults are less likely than other smokers to make aided quit attempts. Telephone quitlines may be a useful tool for treating this population. This study tested a quitline-based smoking cessation intervention versus mailed self-help materials in smokers 18-24 years old.


METHODS
This was a 2-group randomized clinical trial. The quitline-based counseling intervention (CI) included up to 4 proactive telephone counseling sessions; participants in the self-help (SH) group received only mailed cessation materials. Participants included 410 young adults who had smoked at least 1 cigarette in the past 30 days and who called the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line (WTQL) for help with quitting. Primary study outcomes included whether or not a quit date was set, whether or not a serious quit attempt was undertaken, and self-reported 7-day point-prevalence abstinence at 1-, 3-, and 6-month postenrollment.


RESULTS
The CI and SH groups did not differ in the intent-to-treat abstinence analyses at any of the follow-ups. However, the CI group was significantly more likely to set a quit date at 1-month postenrollment. Follow-up response rates were low (67.8% at 1 month; 53.4% at 3 months; and 48.3% at 6 months) reflecting lower motivation to participate in this kind of research.


CONCLUSIONS
Relative to self-help, quitline counseling motivated young adults to set a quit date but abstinence rates were not improved. Research is needed on how to motivate young adult smokers to seek cessation treatment including quitline services.
Department of Pediatrics and Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention (CTRI), University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (UWSMPH), Madison, WI 53711, USA.
Tammy H
TH
Sims
Timothy
T
McAfee
David L
DL
Fraser
Timothy B
TB
Baker
Michael C
MC
Fiore
Stevens S
SS
Smith
D000293:Adolescent; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006293:Health Promotion; D015277:Hotlines; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D011177:Postal Service; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057566:Self Report; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013689:Telephone; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult