SUBGROUPS OF SMOKERS WITH DIFFERENT SUCCESS RATES AFTER USE OF TRANSDERMAL NICOTINE

To identify subgroups of smokers with different success rates, we appl ied ''tree-structured survival analysis'' (TSSA) to data from a previo usly published trial of transdermal nicotine. The subjects who receive d active treatment (14 mg patch, n = 275, or the 21 mg patch, n = 262) constituted the sample for this analysis. Using age, gender, the Fage rstrom Tolerance Questionnaire (FTQ), motivation to quit, number of ci garettes smoked at baseline, and body mass index (BMI) as classificati on variables, TSSA identified two subgroups within the 14 mg patch gro up and four subgroups of smokers within the 21 mg patch group. Among t hose receiving the 14 mg patch, individuals with a BMI greater than 26 .4 kg/m(2) relapsed sooner than did those with a BMI less than or equa l to this value. Within the 21 mg patch group, the survival curve for males was significantly different from that observed in females, with males experiencing a longer time to relapse after treatment than did f emales. Among males, those who were less dependent relapsed significan tly later than did those men who were more dependent. Among females, t hose with a higher motivation to quit relapsed more slowly than did th ose women with less motivation to quit. This information may be helpfu l to clinicians seeking to match specific patients to specific treatme nts with transdermal nicotine in order to maximize treatment outcomes.