Evaluation of a multicomponent group smoking cessation program

Background. Participants who had completed a multicomponent group smoking cessation program were interviewed to determine their smoking status and satisfaction with the program. Methods. The follow-up interviews occurred an average of 20 months after entry to the program, with a response rate of 80% (89 out of 111 enrollees). Most individuals interviewed (82%) were able to quit for at least 24 hr; 25% were able to maintain nonsmoking status for 1 year or longer. Results. Initial quit rates were comparable for both men and women, but women were more than twice as likely to have relapsed by the time of the follow-up interview. Participants rated self-monitoring as the most helpful of 10 program components, including nicotine fading, nicotine gum, group support, health information, and talks by ex-smokers. Ratings for the program overall were higher than the rating of any individual component. Conclusions. Since earlier studies have found that successful quitters use more coping strategies than relapsers, multicomponent programs offer participants an opportunity to learn a variety of techniques and choose the combination that works best for them.