A multicentre randomized trial of combined individual and telephone counselling for smoking cessation

Objective

The present study assessed the effectiveness of smoking cessation programs combining individual and telephone counselling, compared to individual or telephone counselling alone.

Method

A randomized, multicentre, open-label trial was performed between January 2009 and July 2011 at six smoking cessation clinics in Spain. Of 772 smokers assessed for eligibility, 600 (77%) met inclusion criteria and were randomized. Smokers were randomized to receive individual counselling, combined telephone and individual counselling, or telephone counselling. The primary outcome was biochemically validated continuous abstinence at 52 weeks.

Results

The 52-week abstinence rate was significantly lower in the telephone group compared to the combined group (20.1% vs. 29.0%; OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.1–2.7) and to the individual counselling group (20.1% vs. 27.9%; OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.0–2.8). The 52-week abstinence rates were not significantly higher in the combined group than the individual group (OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.7–1.4).

Conclusion

Individual counselling and combined individual and telephone counselling were associated with higher 52-week abstinence rates than telephone counselling alone. A combined approach may be highly useful in the clinical treatment of smokers, as it involves less clinic visits than individual counselling alone, thus reducing the program cost, and it increases patient compliance compared to telephone counselling alone.