BRIEF SUPPORTIVE TELEPHONE OUTREACH AS A RECRUITMENT AND INTERVENTIONSTRATEGY FOR SMOKING CESSATION

Background. Formal efforts to recruit smokers into cessation programs have failed to reach large segments of the smoking population. Telepho ne intervention may represent a viable strategy to promote smoking ces sation. An even more promising approach may be a combination of brief telephone support and outreach to identified smokers. Methods. Telepho ne support for smoking cessation was provided to four identified smoke r populations in Bloomington, Minn, one of three Minnesota Heart Healt h Program education communities. Smokers were randomly assigned to an intervention consisting of two 15-minute telephone calls approximately 1 to 3 weeks apart or to a nonintervention control. Results. At the 6 -month follow-up, a significant overall effect was found in favor of t he intervention condition for both self-reported and cotinine-validate d quitting. Differences between intervention and control conditions we re no longer significant at 18 months. Conclusions. Smokers' receptivi ty to telephone intervention was at least moderately encouraging. The cost of intervention could be relatively low if trained volunteers ini tiated telephone calls. However, more intensive telephone intervention and support may be needed to produce lasting changes in smoking preva lence.