Assessment of the Impact of Monetary Incentives upon Smoking Behavior

Abstract

Following the recent innovative use of monetary incentives by some business firms to discourage cigarette smoking among their employees, this study attempts to evaluate the merits of such programs in a carefully controlled environment. Results indicated that a monetary incentive was generally effective in discouraging people from smoking cigarettes. Interestingly, a monetary incentive offered to groups appeared to be more effective in bringing about behavioral changes among females than among males. Conversely, incentives offered directly to individuals appeared to result in more positive behavioral changes among males than among females. Time of the offer, that is, whether the incentive was offered immediately following the change in behavior or six months after the behavior had been established did not seem to make any difference in the effectiveness of the incentive.

The use of financial incentives in promoting smoking cessation

“…Ten experimental studies have been published evaluating the efficacy of incentives in promoting smoking abstinence in adolescents (Corby et al, 2000; Gray et al, 2011; Krishnan-Sarin et al, 2006; Reynolds et al, 2008; Roll, 2005; Tevyaw et al, 2007) and college students (Correia & Benson, 2006; Irons & Correia, 2008; Kassaye, 1984; Tevyaw et al, 2009). Of these, eight showed a significant treatment effect (Corby et al, 2000; Correia & Benson, 2006; Irons & Correia, 2008; Kassaye, 1984; Krishnan-Sarin et al, 2006; Reynolds et al, 2008; Roll, 2005; Tevyaw et al, 2009). They generally involved brief durations (range: 1–4 weeks), a wide range of visit frequencies (range: 1×/week-3×/day), and moderate incentive magnitudes (mean: $47.27/week; range: $17.49– $94.50/week).…”

Nicotine gum and self-help behavioral treatment for smoking relapse prevention: Results from a trial using population-based recruitment.

“…The $100 monetary incentive served as the basic level of treatment because all participants were eligible to receive it contingent on achieving and maintaining abstinence for 6 months. Several controlled studies have shown that external incentives may reduce smoking rates (Kassaye, 1984; Klesges, Vasey, & Glasgow, 1986; Stitzer & Bigelow, 1983). Although we cannot separate the effects of the incentive in this study, it is clear that the self-help materials failed to increase the effectiveness of the monetary incentive.…”