Telephone counseling for population-based smoking cessation

OBJECTIVES: To examine the options for use, efficiency, and effectiveness for structuring a population-based telephone smoking-cessation service. METHODS: Callers (n=632) to a 1-800 number were randomized in a 2 (50-minute counseling with 2/6 calls) x 2 (pamphlet/booklet) design with print only control. RESULTS: Six-month use of the service was 0.6% of adult smokers. Service promotion cost 31.02 dollars/person. Telephone counseling resulted in higher continued abstinence (5%) than did print only (1%), P<.05. Amount of print and calls did not increase cessation. Six calls resulted in lower completion rates than 2 (22% vs 56%, P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: For planning, consider 1% use, low-cost promotion, pamphlet, 50-minute initial counseling plus 2 follow-ups, and minimize call-attempts.