Effectiveness Of Callback Counseling For Smoking Cessation

Article Highlights

Study Title: Effectiveness Of Callback Counseling For Smoking Cessation
Study Authors: Ron Borland, Catherine J. Segan, et al.
Publication Date: 2006
Complete Study: View Complete Abstract

Overview

Victoria, Australia has a state "Quitline" service designed to help those who are ready to quit smoking and those interested in quitting. Researchers recruited smokers to test of the effectiveness of the Quitline's multiple call counseling program compared to self-help materials for smoking cessation.

Design

In this study, 988 smokers were randomly assigned to either the Quitline's self-help materials or to the series of counseling calls plus materials, as shown in Figure 1.0. All participants had one call in which they received the initial baseline survey and up to fifteen minutes of general help from a counselor.

Figure 1.0

For the participants receiving multiple counseling calls, the counselors delivered the calls according to participants' quit dates. Therefore, calls were delivered on or near the quit date and then in close succession in the week after quitting. To some extent, the date and timing of calls was negotiated between the counselor and participant.

Findings

At the 3-month follow-up, 24% of participants receiving counseling calls reported being quit; 13% of those receiving self-help materials were quit. At 12 months, the difference between the two groups narrowed to 6%. Even so, the group receiving counseling calls had more people quit at 12 months than the group receiving only self-help materials, as shown in Figure 2.0.

Figure 2.0 Percentage of Nonsmokers at 3 and 12 Months

	Counseling Calls	Self-Help Materials
3 Months	24%	13%
12 Months	22%	16%

Finally, participants receiving counseling calls were more likely than those receiving only self-help materials to make a quit attempt within the first three months of entering the Quitline study.

Conclusion

The telephonic counseling sessions significantly increased quit rates compared to self-help materials, and the benefit was sustained in the long-term. Moreover, participants who received multiple calls from trained counselors were more likely to make quit attempts and be successful at quitting than those who used self-help materials with limited counseling assistance.