Essential elements of self-help/minimal intervention strategies for smoking cessation

Two decades of research suggest that self-help/minimal intervention strategies for smoking cessation may be the preferred means by which smokers stop and can produce success rates approximating those of more formal programs, at lower cost and with greater access to relevant populations. In order to make the best possible use of these self-help/minimal intervention approaches, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) supported a series of randomized, controlled intervention trials and, in June of 1988, convened an Expert Advisory Panel to address the question "What are the essential elements of self-help/minimal intervention strategies for smoking cessation?". The panel's recommendations were that: (1) Intervention efforts should focus on increasing smokers' motivations to make serious quit attempts; (2) Delivery of programs be broadened to include all smokers; (3) Programs be targeted to stages of cessation and specific populations; (4) All programs include (a) elements focused on health and social consequences of smoking, and (b) strategies and exercises aimed at quitting, maintenance of nonsmoking, relapse prevention, and recycling; (5) Materials and programs be made widely available rather than "fine tuning" existing programs or developing new ones; and (6) Programs make use of specific adjunctive strategies. In this way, a reacceleration of the decline in smoking prevalence may be realized in the 1990s and significantly contribute to the NCI's Year 2000 goals and the Surgeon General's aim of a smoke-free society.