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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2010 Sep;39(2):150-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2010.05.013. Epub 2010 Jul 3.

Perceived drug assignment and treatment outcome in smokers given nicotine patch therapy

Steffani R Bailey  1 , Dalea M Fong, Susan W Bryson, Stephen P Fortmann, Joel D Killen
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Perceived drug assignment and treatment outcome in smokers given nicotine patch therapy

Steffani R Bailey et al. J Subst Abuse Treat. 2010 Sep.

Abstract

This study assessed the relationship between treatment outcome and perceived drug assignment in smokers (nicotine patch [NP] or placebo) using abstinence and relapse status. Smokers (N = 424) were randomly assigned to receive either NP or placebo as part of a study that examined the effects of combining NP with self-help programs. Beliefs about drug assignment, assessed at the 12-month follow-up, were obtained from 384 participants. Beliefs were related to abstinence at the 2-month, p < .05, and 6-month follow-ups, p < .05, for the NP group, but not the placebo. Beliefs were not related to abstinence at 12 months for either group. Survival analysis assessing relapse revealed that beliefs were related to relapse status, regardless of actual group assignment. Our results suggest that there is a relationship between perceived drug assignment and treatment outcome. Future studies using multiple treatment outcome measures and assessments of beliefs over time are warranted.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Perceived drug assignment at 12 months and abstinence status at 2-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups (N = 384).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Relapse to regular smoking (daily use for at least 1 week) over 1 year after randomization by actual versus perceived drug treatment assignment (nicotine patch or placebo).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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