Evaluation of a minimal self-help smoking cessation intervention followingcervical cancer screening

Objective. This study was undertaken to evaluate a smoking cessation interv ention provided to women smokers as follow-up to cervical cancer screening. Methods. Women who had had a Pap test in the prior month (N = 4,053) were c alled to complete a survey that assessed smoking status; 580 identified smo kers were randomized to receive Usual care (n = 292) or a Self-help interve ntion (n = 288) that included a self-help booklet, a smoking and reproducti ve health information card, and three telephone counseling calls. Women wer e followed up at 6 and 15 months postbase-line. Results. Cessation rates in the Usual care (UC) and Self-help (SH) groups d id not differ at the 6-month (UC 10.5% vs SH 10.9%, P = 0.56) or 15-month f ollow-up (UC 15.5% vs SH 10.6%, P = 0.17). Among women with an abnormal Pap test result there were no differences by study group in cessation rates at B-month (UC 9.8% vs SH 11.0%, P = 0.71) or 15-month follow-up (UC 14.6% vs SH 13.4%, P = 0.96). Conclusion. Integrating interventions into the clinical setting and involvi ng providers at the point of care may have greater potential for capitalizi ng on this "teachable moment," (C) 1999 American Health Foundation and Acad emic Press.