Smokers requesting self-help materials for smoking cessation (N = 2,021) were randomized to receive (a) an experimental self-quitting guide emphasizing nicotine fading and other nonaversive behavioral strategies, (b) the same self-quitting guide with a support guide for the quitter's family and friends, (c) self-quitting and support guides along with four brief counselor calls, or (d) a control guide providing motivational and quit tips and referral to locally available guides and programs. Subjects were predominantly moderate to heavy smokers with a history of multiple previous quit attempts and treatments. Control subjects achieved quit rates similar to those of smokers using the experimental quitting guide, with fewer behavioral prequitting strategies and more outside treatments. Social support guides had no effect on perceived support for quitting or on 8- and 16-month quit rates. Telephone counseling increased adherence to the quitting protocol and quit rates.

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With the emergence of nosocomial infections as a serious problem among US hospitals, the Center for Disease Control undertook in 1974 a nationwide study to evaluate approaches to infection control. The three-phased project, now known as the Study on the Efficacy of Nosocomial Infection Control, or SENIC Project, was designed with three primary objectives: 1) to determine whether (and, if so, to what degree) the implementation of infection surveillance and control programs (ISCPs) has lowered the rate ofnosocomi al infection, 2) to describe the current status of ISCPs and infection rates, and 3) to demonstrate the relationships among characteristics of hospitals and patients, components of ISCPs, and changes in the infection rate. With data collection completed in a nationally representative sample of hospitals, analysis is underway to identify approaches to infection control that are most effective for the least cost to hospitals and to point out additional specific questions to be answered by future research.

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