Treatment session frequency and smoking cessation

In a retrospective program evaluation analysis, we compared abstinence rates in 78 smokers participating in a 2-, 3-, or 6-week clinic-based behavioral-pharmacological smoking cessation program. The three treatment formats consisted of six sessions that varied in session frequency. Retention and end-of-treatment smoking cessation rates were best in the medium-frequency (3-week) and high-frequency (2-week) treatment session formats. One-year follow-up abstinence rates were highest in the medium-frequency format, and lowest in the high-frequency format. A significant patient-treatment interaction effect was found for pretreatment smoking rate. Individuals with lower pretreatment smoking rates benefited most with respect to end-of-treatment cessation rates from the medium- and high-frequency treatment session format. However, this effect was not significant at the 1-year follow-up. The need for prospective research and patient-to-treatment matching implications in smoking cessation programs are discussed.