Promoting repeat tobacco dependence treatment: are relapsed smokers interested?

Promotion of repeat tobacco dependence treatment among relapsed smokers interested in "recycling" (repeat quit attempt) may be a promising approach to increase quit rates.

To report relapsed smokers' interest in recycling and their treatment preferences.

Descriptive analysis of a population of relapsed smokers who were randomized to receive a recycling intervention strategy to increase tobacco dependence treatment rates, as part of a randomized controlled trial at 5 Veterans Affairs medical centers.

Individuals prescribed a tobacco dependence medication in 2002 were eligible and were identified from the Department of Veterans Affairs Pharmacy Benefits Management database. Intervention group participants (n = 951) were contacted for a standardized telephone interview approximately 6 months after the prescription fill date to assess smoking status, interest in recycling, and treatment preferences. Bivariate analyses and generalized linear mixed-model regressions were used to describe outcomes.

The response rate to the intervention telephone call was 62% (586/951), at which 61% (357/586) of respondents had relapsed. Almost two thirds of relapsed smokers were interested in recycling within 30 days. Of these, 91% wanted behavioral or pharmacologic smoking cessation treatment, and 64% wanted behavioral and pharmacologic treatment. In multivariate analyses, independent predictors of interest in recycling within 30 days included black race, lower smoking level, and greater number of smoking-related medical conditions.

Most smokers who attempt to quit but relapse want to quit again right away, and most are interested in receiving behavioral and pharmacologic treatment.