Perceived helpfulness of messages on a community-based telephone support service for ex-smokers

Callers to a community-based telephone support service for ex-smokers evaluated the perceived helpfulness of six categories of taped messages. These categories were: behavioral coping, cognitive coping, negative health, positive health, informational, and supportive. Supportive messages were rated as significantly more helpful than negative health, informational, and behavioral coping. The implications of these findings are discussed.