Program Evaluation for a Novel Multicomponent Smoking Cessation Intervention for Smokers With Serious Mental Illness

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Mental Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) experience higher smoking rates and lower cessation success compared to the general population.
• Effective, accessible smoking cessation treatments are crucial for this disparity group to improve health and prevent disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To optimize and evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a multicomponent telehealth intervention, Breathe Well, Live Well, for individuals with SMI who smoke.
• To compare the intervention's outcomes against a usual care condition (The 3 As).

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental program evaluation was conducted with 170 daily smokers with SMI receiving integrated care.
• The intervention group (n=53) received eight telehealth sessions over 4 months, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based counseling, pharmacotherapy support, incentivized app use (quitSTART), and social support coaching.
• The comparison group (n=117) received usual care.

Main Results:

• Participants in the Breathe Well, Live Well program were approximately three times more likely to achieve biologically verified smoking abstinence at follow-up compared to the usual care group.
• Among participants who continued smoking, those in the intervention group were five times more likely to reduce their daily cigarette consumption by at least 50%.

Conclusions:

• The Breathe Well, Live Well intervention is feasible for delivery by community mental health center staff via telehealth.
• The intervention demonstrates significant effectiveness in promoting smoking abstinence and reducing consumption among individuals with SMI.