A Worksite smoking cessation intervention involving the media and incentives

Abstract

This study evaluated an attempt at 38 workplaces to help employees stop or reduce their levels of smoking. In past research, worksite support groups, in combination with a media smoking cessation program and self-help manuals, were found to be effective in helping employees quit smoking. Unfortunately, recidivism was found at the follow-up evaluations. The present study replicated the results of the previous worksite smoking cessation program with support groups, a television intervention, and self-help manuals. At this postpoint, 42% of employees provided groups plus incentives were abstinent compared to only 15% who were only provided self-help materials. An important difference in this study was that there were also monthly follow-up support groups and incentives. Work settings can be a source of stress and conflict, which can precipitate relapse. At a 12-month follow-up, 26% of those participants who were provided support and incentives were abstinent compared to 16% who were only provided the self-help materials.

Health promotion trials at worksites and risk factors for cancer

“…Progression through stages of change was evaluated in one study, which found a progressive tendency towards higher stages of the quitting process (27). A reduction in the number of cigarettes smoked per day (2.5 and 3.6 cigarettes/day) was found in two (11,31) out of four studies evaluating this outcome (10,14). Another trial reported a 20% reduction in heavy smokers (more than 30 cigarettes/day) (34).…”

“…Most (N=27) of them focused on tobacco control either exclusively (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21) or as part of a wider health promotion program (22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34). Sixteen health promotion programs focused exclusively (35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43) or in part (23-27, 31, 34, 43) on diet.…”

“…To achieve better results with behavioral changes, some interventions included support over time (15, 17, 19-21, 28, 31, 32, 34, 40, 50), involvement of family members (37), within and between company competitions or incentives (10,13,18,20,22,26,27,29,37,47), or participation of the occupational health services of the company in program planning and implementation (15-17, 20, 23, 24, 26-28, 31, 34, 39). …”

“…Almost all the trials provided some information on participation rates (figure 1), but only a few reported comprehensive data for different stages of the study (10,12,22,28,50). Worksite or physician participation rates were reported in 11 trials, and they ranged from 17% (8) to 100% (19).…”

“…In some of these studies (N=6), the control groups were not re-contacted after the baseline surveys examining the prevalence of risk factors in the study population (10,12,19,(26)(27)(28), while in others (N=8) the control groups received a variable amount of information on tobacco control (8, 9, 13-15, 18, 25, 29). On most occasions this information was limited to minimal informative material distributed at the beginning of the intervention.…”