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, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840-4902

One challenge in smoking cessation programs is to access large groups of people at the same place and time. A case-control study design was developed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a distance program using mail as a way to help smokers quit. 303 participants (smokers) participated in the study. An inclusion-exclusion criterion was also developed. A five-unit multicomponent system of treatment was designed. Each unit included several tasks that smokers/participants developed for themselves. The control group received a brief practical guide for smoking cessation, which was developed as a general population guide by the Health Authorities of the Canary Islands. Patient performance was evaluated through follow-up phone calls during the 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 12th month after treatment.

Most participants who were unable to stop smoking increased their reduction of consumption and almost 20% in the intervention group became nonsmokers and remained non smokers after 1 year. The cost effectiveness of the program was calculated dividing the total cost in two groups of expenses, namely, cost incurred by health professionals and cost of materials. The average cost of both groups was very similar; the number of participants of each group was also similar (149 vs 154) and results indicated that the intervention group was more cost-effective than the control group (422 Euros vs 666 Euros). Also, the most cost effective age group was 45-54 years. Results indicated that this particular distance program was a cost effective method to reach large groups of smokers and especially those in their middle age.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize challenges in smoking cessation programs to large groups of people at the same place and time.
• Evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a distance program using mail as a means to smoking cessation.
• Recognize driving forces of a distance program using mail as a means to smoking cessation.
• Recognize restraining forces of a distance program using mail as a means to smoking cessation.

Keywords: Tobacco, Community-Based Health Promotion

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.