Interactive versus noninteractive interventions and dose-response relationships for stage-matched smoking cessation programs in a managed care setting

This study compared interactive and noninteractive smoking cessation interv entions for a population of smokers who were all members of 1 division of a managed care company. In addition, it examined whether a dose-response rel ationship existed. Screening was completed for 19,236 members who were cont acted by telephone or mail. Of the 4,653 who were identified as smokers, 85 .3% were enrolled. A 2 Intervention (interactive or noninteractive) x 4 Con tacts (1, 2, 3, or 6 contacts)x 4 Occasions (0, 6, 12, and 18 months) desig n was used. The interactive intervention was stage-matched expert-system re ports plus manuals; the noninteractive intervention was stage-matched manua ls. Contact occurred in 1 of 4 series (1, 2, 3 or 6 contacts) at 3-month in tervals. The expert system outperformed the stage-matched manuals, but ther e was no clear dose-response relationship for either intervention.