Learning Objectives: Describe the preliminary outcomes from an innovative smoking cessation program conducted among young adults.
Abstract: Project Look At Your Health evaluated a smoking cessation program among community college students. Motivational interviewing-based, computer-assisted counseling with health feedback was used in the intervention group (IG) (n=219), and an NCI manual was used in the standard care (SC) group (n=207). Fifteen Houston-area junior colleges participated. Study participants (n=426) were 18 to 36 years of age, 58% female, 55% white, 12% African American, 17% Hispanic, and 16% other. Students were assessed at baseline and again at three time points (approximately 2 to 3 months apart). The majority of students have been followed for 3 to 10 months; however, the study is ongoing, and participation rates for post-baseline assessments 1, 2, and 3 are 92%, 78%, and 54%, respectively. At follow-up 1, 12% of the students had quit. At follow-up 2, an additional 11% had quit and 4% had relapsed. At follow-up 3, another 15% had quit and 6% had relapsed. The cumulative percentage of quitters was 12% (n=394), 19% (n=332), and 28% (n=231) for those with follow-up data at each time point. Considering all participants, 23% of the students had quit at their last follow-up, 7% had relapsed, and 70% were smokers at all follow-ups. Controlling for baseline scores, groups differed significantly (p<.05) on average decisional balance, pros of smoking, and cons of smoking scores, with the IG group exhibiting less favorable attitudes toward smoking. Also, on average, the IG group reported fewer smoking temptations and withdrawal symptoms than did the SC group. No between-group quitting differences were found to-date.
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