Public service application of an effective clinic approach to smoking cessation

A unique partnership has been established between researchersat Iowa State University and the American Lung Association ofIowa. This partnership has resulted in the statewide applicationof an effective clinic method for smoking cessation.From a verymodest beginning (four public service clinics were held in the1979–1980 fiscal year) the program has evolved to a totalof 103 clinics in the 1987–1988 fiscal year. The publicservice clinics are continually revised to reflect current laboratoryfindings. Long-term follow-up data are routinely collected onall clinic participants. Costs are kept at relatively modestlevels through use of lay facilitators and donated clinic sites.Quality control and evaluation are systematically maintained.One-year abstinence levels have averaged 33%. The clinics arenow continuing under the auspices of the American Lung Associationof Iowa. This model of laboratory research combined with fieldapplication should be replicable in other locations and withadditional types of public health problems.