Recorded presentation

Vance Rabius, PhD, MA, American Cancer Society/University of Texas - Houston - School of Public Health, 1825B Kramer Lane, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78758, 512-651-4691, vrabius@cancer.org, Joanne Pike, MA LPC, National Cancer Information Center, American Cancer Society, 1825B Kramer Lane, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78758, Angela Geiger, MBA, National Home Office, American Cancer Society, 1599 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, Alfred L. McAlister, PhD, Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, University of Texas School of Public Health, 7000 Fannin, Suite 2056 K, Houston, TX 77030, and Joseph Hunter, American Cancer Society, National Cancer Information Center, 1825B Kramer Lane, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78758.

The American Cancer Society conducted this study to evaluate the effectiveness of variations in the number and duration of smoking cessation counseling sessions provided via telephone. A three-by-two experimental design was employed in which 4,097 clients were randomized to receive one of three counseling formats and, within each of those groups, to receive counseling with or without two additional “booster” sessions, lasting 15 minutes each, one and two months after the main sessions were concluded. The three counseling formats were (1) the American Cancer Society Quitline standard five session counseling protocol (210 minutes total), (2) three sessions with a total duration equivalent to one-half of the five session protocol (105 minutes total), and (3) five abbreviated sessions with duration of counseling under ten minutes each (50 minutes total). To test the overall counseling effect, a proportion of study participants were randomized to receive self-help booklets only. Three-month follow-up interviews were attempted for all study participants. Results show a significant overall counseling effect. When combined for analysis, the standard five session and three session protocols were significantly more effective than the five abbreviated session. Booster sessions did not significantly increase quitting rates in the whole study group, but boosters did show a significant effect among cases exhibiting an indication of depression in their baseline interviews. These findings suggest that, except possibly for special sub-populations, extending the counseling intervention time period beyond approximately 100 minutes may not significantly enhance counseling effects. Longer-term follow-up is needed to confirm the findings reported here.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to

• Describe the effects of varying the duration or number of telephone counseling sessions on smoking cessation for the general population.
• Explain how these effects differ for clients exhibiting a indication of depression.

Keywords: Smoking Cessation, Depression

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: American Cancer Society
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I am the evaluation manager for the American Cancer Society's Smokers' Quitline

Recorded presentation