The effectiveness of a worksite self-help smoking cessation program: a randomized trial

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Behavioral Science
• Public Health Interventions

Background:

• Worksite smoking cessation programs are crucial for reducing tobacco use.
• Evaluating the efficacy of different intervention components is essential for program design.
• Self-help materials are commonly distributed but their standalone effectiveness varies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of a multicomponent health education and skill intervention for smoking cessation.
• To determine the impact of a monetary incentive on employee quit rates.
• To compare the effectiveness of these interventions when combined with self-help materials.

Main Methods:

• A 2x2 factorial randomized trial involving 387 smokers at a worksite.
• Interventions included a multicomponent program, monetary incentive, or both, alongside self-help manuals.
• Follow-up assessments at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months, with saliva thiocyanate (SCN) analysis for verification.

Main Results:

• The multicomponent intervention group demonstrated the highest success rates in achieving and maintaining smoking abstinence.
• The monetary incentive group showed no significant difference in quit rates compared to controls.
• Combined interventions did not yield significantly better results than the multicomponent program alone.

Conclusions:

• Multicomponent health education and skill-building interventions are effective strategies for worksite smoking cessation.
• Monetary incentives appear to be ineffective in promoting smoking cessation in this context.
• Future worksite interventions should prioritize comprehensive educational and skill-based approaches over financial rewards.