Personal Network Changes among Smoking Relapse Prevention Intervention Participants

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Behavioral Science
• Addiction Medicine

Background:

• Tobacco use is a leading cause of preventable death in the US.
• High relapse rates among former smokers pose a significant public health challenge.
• Personal networks (PNs) influence smoking behaviors, yet are underutilized in relapse prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To pilot a novel relapse prevention intervention (Helpers Stay Quit - HSQ) that leverages personal networks.
• To assess the impact of HSQ on participants' personal networks and their ability to engage in "helping conversations" (HCs).
• To evaluate the effect of HCs on smoking cessation behaviors within the participants' networks.

Main Methods:

• A single-group, pre-post pilot study design.
• Participants received the HSQ intervention, designed to train recent quitters to initiate HCs.
• Data collected on smoking status, PN composition, and HC delivery.

Main Results:

• 86% of participants remained abstinent from smoking throughout the study.
• 89% of participants successfully delivered at least one HC.
• Quitters who remained abstinent increased contact with non-family members and current smokers, enhancing HC opportunities.
• Individuals receiving HCs reported positive changes in cessation-related behaviors.

Conclusions:

• The HSQ intervention shows promise for facilitating smoking cessation within the social networks of recent quitters.
• Leveraging personal networks through HCs may be a viable strategy to improve sustained smoking abstinence.
• This approach could offer a scalable method for broader public health impact in smoking cessation efforts.