Learning Objectives: Identify effective communication strategies for population-based smoking cessation interventions.
Abstract:
Problem/Objective: To test the hypothesis that the provision of factual information tailored to the smoker’s brand and style of cigarettes will increase smokers’ knowledge of product characteristics and their future quit rate.
Methods: 990 adult callers (18+ years) to the New York State Smoker’s Quitline were randomized into one of three intervention arms: 1) the control group received only standard counseling and materials; 2) the second received the standard counseling and materials plus information about specific cigarette characteristics, including filters, low tar, menthol, no-additive cigarettes, and stop smoking medications; and 3) the third arm received the same materials as the second group plus the cover of information was tailored to their particular brand and type of cigarette. Participants were then called back six weeks later to assess their knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and current tobacco use.
Results: Preliminary data from the first 94 participants show that smokers in the intervention groups were more knowledgeable about particular cigarette characteristics compared to the control group. For example, a greater percentage of participants who received the tailored educational brochure responded correctly to all knowledge questions regarding filters and low tar cigarettes. Participants who received the tailored materials were also more likely to have used any nicotine medications during the six week follow-up period. This study will be completed this summer and the final results will be presented.
Conclusions: Educational materials tailored to the particular brand and style of cigarettes may increase smokers’ knowledge about product-specific characteristics, which may then increase future successful quit attempts.
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