Randomized controlled trial examining the effectiveness of a tailored self-help smoking-cessation intervention for postsecondary smokers

Abstract

Objective: Between September 2002 and February 2003, the authors assessed the effectiveness of a new, age-tailored, self-help smoking-cessation program for college students.

Participants: College student smokers (N = 216) from 6 Ontario universities participated.

Methods: The researchers used a randomized controlled trial with a 3-month telephone follow-up. Interventions included a new program (Smoke|Quit), the Canadian Cancer Society's self-help program, and a usual care quit kit.

Results: Intention-to-treat analysis of 7-day point prevalence cessation revealed quit rates of 11.4% for Smoke|Quit, 2.9% for the Cancer Society's program, and 5.6% for the usual care intervention (p < .05). Among nonquitters, 46.5% had made a quit attempt, and weekly consumption decreased from 54.01 to 42.08 cigarettes (p < .001) with no differences across interventions.

Conclusions: Making tailored, self-help programs widely available on campus may be an effective way to provide smoking-cessation support to a large segment of the young adult population.