title: The effectiveness of the Allen Carr smoking cessation training in companies tested in a quasi-experimental design.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Allen Carr training (ACt) is a popular one-session smoking cessation group training that is provided by licensed organizations that have the permission to use the Allen Carr method. However, few data are available on the effectiveness of the training.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a quasi-experimental design the effects of the existing practice of providing the ACt to smokers (n = 124) in companies on abstinence, were compared to changes in abstinence in a cohort of similar smokers in the general population (n = 161). To increase comparability of the smokers in both conditions, smokers in the control condition were matched on the group level on baseline characteristics (fourteen variables) to the smokers in the ACt. The main outcome measure was self-reported continuous abstinence after 13 months, which was validated using a CO measurement in the Act condition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Logistic regression analyses showed that when baseline characteristics were comparable, significantly more responding smokers were continuously abstinent in the ACt condition compared to the control condition, Exp(B) = 6.52 (41.1% and 9.6%, respectively). The all-cases analysis was also significant, Exp(B) = 5.09 (31.5% and 8.3%, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Smokers following the ACt in their company were about 6 times more likely to be abstinent, assessed after 13 months, compared to similar smokers in the general population. Although smokers in both conditions did not differ significantly on 14 variables that might be related to cessation success, the quasi-experimental design allows no definite conclusion about the effectiveness of the ACt. Still, these data support the provision of the ACt in companies.
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, The Netherlands. arie.dijkstra@rug.nl.
authors.forename: Arie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dijkstra
authors.forename: Rixt
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zuidema
authors.forename: Diederick
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vos
authors.forename: Marike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Kalken
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009938:Organizations; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012107:Research Design; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy