Correlates of participation in a worksite stop-smoking contest

Smokers employed at Roswell Park Memorial Institute, a cancer hospital and research center located in Buffalo, New York, were offered the opportunity to participate in a quit-smoking contest in which cash prizes were awarded for stopping smoking. Information on the smoking habits and attitudes of employees collected in a survey 3 months before the contest was used to predict the characteristics of smokers associated with contest participation. The same variables were also used to predict cessation among contest participants 3 months after the start of the contest. Overall, 14% of smokers enrolled in the contest, with one-third still abstinent 3 months later. Contest participation was associated with the smoker's reported desire to stop smoking and the number of symptoms related to smoking. Smoking cessation was related to the strength of the smoking habit, the confidence in the ability to quit, and the smoking status and relationship of the respondent's partner in the contest.