Evaluation of a smoking cessation programme that uses behaviour modification

To obtain an up-to-date measure of the end-of-course success rate of the Isis Stop Smoking Programme and to determine which demographic, socioeconomic and behavioural factors were predictors of success in the programme.

Data from a questionnaire completed at the outset of course participation were available for 1016 Isis participants. The data were statistically analysed.

"Success" was defined as having consumed no cigarettes during the final 24 hours of participation on the Isis Programme. The overall success rate at completion of the programme was 69% of participants. For both males and females, the number of cigarettes consumed on beginning the programme was the strongest predictor of success. Other predictors were commitment to quitting, nicotine yield of the usual cigarette, number of years of smoking and age. Young females had a particularly good success rate. Participants were categorised according to the New Zealand Socioeconomic Index of Occupational Status. Professional and technical workers were the most successful quitters and the unemployed, self-employed and students had particularly low success rates.

Assuming proportionality of recent end-of-course success rates with comparable figures from the late 1970s, the proportion of Isis participants who continue to be non-smokers one year from completing the course would be approximately 33%. Further investigation to confirm this is warranted.