Smoking Cessation Resource Center: Clinical Studies

The Efficacy of Computer-Tailored Smoking Cessation Material as a Supplement to Nicotine Polacrilex Gum Therapy

Saul Shiffman, PhD; Jean A. Paty, PhD; Jeffrey M. Rohay, MS; Michael E. Di Marino, MA; Joe Gitchell, BA
November 1, 1999

Background:
Standard, generic self-help materials have been largely ineffective as behavioral treatments for smoking cessation. In contrast, self-help programs tailored to the needs of specific smokers have shown promise in facilitating quitting.

Objective:
To evaluate the incremental efficacy of the Committed Quitters Program (CQP), a set of computer-tailored materials offered to purchasers of nicotine polacrilex gum, compared with a brief untailored user's guide and audiotape, both as supplements to nicotine replacement therapy.

Methods:
We conducted a randomized, open-label trial with 3 parallel arms. Subjects were smokers who purchased 2- or 4-mg nicotine polacrilex gum and called the CQP toll-free enrollment line. Three thousand six hundred twenty-seven subjects consented to participate in 1 of 3 study arms: (1) those receiving the CQP materials (CQP group, n=1217), (2) those receiving CQP materials and an outbound telephone call (CQP +C group, n=1207); and (3) those receiving no supplemental intervention beyond the user's guide and audiotape that were prepackaged with the nicotine polacrilex gum (UG group, n=1203). Twenty-eight-day continuous abstinence rates were assessed by telephone interviews at 6 weeks and 10-week continuous rates at 12 weeks into treatment.

Results:
Abstinence rates among respondents at the 6- and 12-week assessments were significantly higher for the CQP (36.2% and 27.6%) and CQP +C (35.5% and 27.3%) groups compared with the UG group (24.7% and 17.7%) at both intervals. The quit rates for the CQP and CQP +C groups were almost identical.

Conclusions:
The CQP proved to be an effective behavioral treatment, enhancing quit rates over and above nicotine replacement therapy and a brief untailored written guide and audiotape.

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