The Effectiveness of Smoking Cessation: A Pilot Project

Goals The Kentucky Cancer Program proposes to conduct a pilot study to describe smokers' experiences in attempting to quit smoking while participating in a self-help version of the Cooper/Clayton Smoking Cessation program. Focus groups will also explore ways of providing additional treatment methods that consider smokers who may not be able to participate in group cessation programs. Methods and Research Plan To generate descriptive data in this exploratory study, qualitative methods including focus groups and indepth interviews will be used. Transcripts of focus groups and interviews will be analyzed for content using standard phenomenologic analysis methods, which will result in a participant-generated conceptual model of optimal smoking cessation methodology. The participants in the traditional Cooper/Clayton group method would have attended a 12-week communitybased smoking cessation program and have received a participant manual and financial reimbursement for the nicotine replacement product used in the group method. In this modified self-help version of the Cooper/Clayton group method, participants will be given a self-help guide, a videotape, information on Cancer Information Service and American Cancer Society phone help lines for smoking cessation and financial reimbursement for the nicotine replacement product used in the self-help method. At the end of 12 weeks, participants will attend focus groups which will assess participant satisfaction with this modified self-help method of smoking cessation, usefulness of materials, usefulness of telephone help lines, etc.