INCORPORATING SOCIAL SUPPORT INTO A COMMUNITY-WIDE SMOKING-CESSATION CONTEST

Social support for smoking cessation has been identified as a key fact or differentiating which individuals are most likely to quit smoking. Attempts to enhance social support in clinic-based programs have gener ally been unsuccessful. This study investigated a strategy for increas ing the involvement of supportive others among participants in a commu nity-based smoking-cessation contest. These smokers were undertaking q uit attempts without the supportive environment offered in clinic-base d group programs. Subjects included 734 adult smokers who had particip ated in a smoking-cessation contest in their local community. Contest participants had the option of designating a ''support person'' who wo uld assist them in quitting smoking and be eligible for prizes if the participant was a contest winner. Follow-up was by telephone survey 3 months after the end of the contest. No differences were observed in d emographic or smoking history variables between those who did and did not elect to name a support person. A relatively high proportion (60%) of contest participants elected to identify a support person, and sel f-reported smoking-cessation rates were significantly better among tho se who named a support person than among those who did not. Identifyin g a support person was a particularly effective strategy for those wit h smoking or nonsupportive spouses. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Scienc e Ltd