Pilot trial of delayed versus immediate financial incentives for smoking cessation

This study compared delayed- versus immediate-reward financial incentives using a weekly reward frequency.

Smokers were randomized in a single blinded study of 2 groups: Reward Group used an immediate-reward strategy and Banked-Money Group used a delayed-reward strategy. Subjects received personalized smoking cessation plans, presented weekly for smoking tests measuring exhaled CO (COex) and received $40 for passing. The Reward Group immediately received $40 whereas the Banked-Money Group's $40 was placed in an account they could access only upon successful study completion. During the first 3 months, subjects could fail 2 tests before a 3rd disqualified them. During the last month, any positive smoking test disqualified them. If disqualified, the Reward Group members kept all previously received rewards however the Banked-Money Group members lost all accrued money. Follow up visits occurred at 3 and 6 months after trial completion.

Twelve (33%) participants quit smoking in intention to treat analysis with 9 (75%) remaining abstinent 6 months after trial completion. The Reward Group had 5 of 15 (33%) quit versus 7 of 16 (43.8%) in the Banked-Money Group. Conclusions: This pilot trial shows the financial incentive protocol is feasible with favorable quit rates compared to previously published data.