Step care treatment for smoking cessation

Jon O. Ebbert, Melissa A. Little, Robert C. Klesges, Zoran Bursac, Karen C. Johnson, Fridtjof Thomas, Mark W. Vander Weg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We compared the effectiveness of a 'stepped care' approach with increasing treatment intensity ('Step Care') to one with repeated treatments ('Recycle') among cigarette smokers interested in quitting smoking. Step 1 of the Step Care intervention consisted of a single counseling session, nicotine patch for six weeks and telephonic contact. For smokers not achieving tobacco abstinence 6 months after randomization with Step 1, the intensity of the intervention increased to four counseling sessions, bupropion sustained-release, nine telephone calls and three mailings (Step 2). For those not achieving tobacco abstinence 12 months after randomization, smokers received six behavioral counseling sessions, nicotine patch and nicotine gum, nine telephone calls and three mailings (Step 3). The Recycle participants received one session of health behavior counseling, six weeks of the nicotine patch and a telephone call at each step. 270 cigarette smokers were randomized. At 24 months after randomization using an intention to treat analysis, no statistically significant difference was observed in prolonged smoking abstinence between the Step Care and Recycle condition (16.9% versus 9.4%; adjusted ORp=1.88; 95% CI 0.88-4.01; P=0.10). Additional research is needed to explore whether a stepped care intervention increases long-term smoking abstinence rates compared with repeating the same intervention.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1-11
Number of pages11
JournalHealth Education Research
Volume32
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1 2017

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Education
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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