Health Education & Behavior

 

Advanced Search

Journal Navigation

Journal Home

Subscriptions

Archive

Contact Us

Table of Contents

The Diabetes Educator

Click here for more information

Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow References
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Saved Citations
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Request Reprints
Right arrow Add to My Marked Citations
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Cummings, K. M.
Right arrow Articles by Sciandra, R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Cummings, K. M.
Right arrow Articles by Sciandra, R.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati  
What's this?
Health Education & Behavior, Vol. 15, No. 2, 199-216 (1988)
DOI: 10.1177/109019818801500205

Format and Quitting Instructions as Factors Influencing the Impact of a Self-Administered Quit Smoking Program

K. Michael Cummings, PhD, MPH

Department of Cancer Control and Epidemiology, Roswell Park Memorial Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263

Seth L. Emont, MS

Department of Cancer Control and Epidemiology, Roswell Park Memorial Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263

Carlos Jaén, PhD

Department of Cancer Control and Epidemiology, Roswell Park Memorial Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263

Russell Sciandra, MA

Department of Cancer Control and Epidemiology, Roswell Park Memorial Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263

This article presents results from an experimental study designed to evaluate the effects of two features of self-help smoking cessation booklets, format (i.e., day-by- day plan for quitting versus a less structured menu format) and quitting instructions (i.e., "cold turkey" versus gradual reduction) on smoking cessation. Four separate self- help booklets were developed for comparison in this study. Each varied on a combina tion of the two study factors, but were similar in content, length, style, and readabil ity. The four booklets provided similar advice on how to quit smoking, emphasizing behavioral self-management principles. In addition to the experimental booklets, a fifth control booklet provided general information about smoking and its adverse effects, but no specific advice on quitting. Study subjects included 1,534 adult cigar ette smokers who called a stop smoking hotline in Buffalo, New York seeking informa tion on how to quit. Subjects were followed up by phone one month and six months after enrollment to assess changes in smoking behavior. Overall, 18% of subjects re ported being off cigarettes for at least one week at the time of the six month follow-up interview. The format of the booklet and quitting instructions had no effect on smoking cessation rates. In addition, the four booklets emphasizing behavioral self- management skills were no more effective than the control booklet (6 month non- smoking prevalence rate: 17% versus 19%). It is recommended that future self-help quit smoking booklets include information aimed at motivating cessation and focus less attention on teaching strategies for quitting.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?