Jose R. Calvo¹, Tadeo E. Rodriguez¹, J.A. Lopez-Cabanas¹, G. Nuez del Rosario¹, Veronica Acosta-DePrez, PhD, CHES², and Mohammed Forouzesh, MPH, PhD³. (1) Universidad de Las Palmas, Ciencias Clinicas de Salud, Gran Canaria, Spain, (2) Health Science, California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90840-4902, (562)985-7698, vacosta@csulb.edu, (3) Health Science Department, California State University at Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840-4902

A case-control study was designed to test the efficacy of a smoking cessation distance program via mail and to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of such a system.

Participants (N=303) were recruited through advertising in four Sunday newspapers, TV and radio. A survey questionnaire, which included demographic data and smoking habits, was designed. Participants completed the questionnaire as well as a consent form to participate in the study. An inclusion-exclusion criterion was also developed.

A five-unit multicomponent system of treatment was designed for the experimental group which included several tasks developed by the smoker in his/her treatment/program. The control group received a brief practical guide for smoking cessation developed by the health authorities of the Canary Islands. 149 participants were in the intervention group and 154 in the control group.

Patient performance was monitored through follow-up calls during the 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 12th month after treatment. Results indicated that 14.1% of the intervention group stopped smoking at the end of treatment in comparison with 12.3% of control group. One year following treatment, 19.5% were able to stop smoking and remained nonsmokers in comparison with 12.3 % of control group. Results of the study indicated that this method was effective in helping large groups of smokers quit at a given time. This method proved to be successful, as well as easy to develop and implement, and was cost-effective as a way of reaching large groups.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe a distance program infused for tobacco cessation services reaching large groups.
• Describe the benefits of distance learning in smoking cessation.
• Articulate a multicomponent system related to distance learning in smoking cessation.

Keywords: Tobacco, Community-Based Public Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.