Effectiveness of a quit and win contest with a low-income population

Ellen J. Hahn, Mary Kay Rayens, Costel Chirila, Carol A. Riker, Todd P. Paul, Todd A. Warnick

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background. In a two-group quasi-experimental study, we evaluated the impact of a quit and win contest on quitting among low-income tobacco users and identified contest elements used by successful quitters. Low-income tobacco users have been largely untouched by tobacco cessation approaches. Methods. A volunteer sample of 248 low-income tobacco users were recruited from quit and win contest registrants (treatment group). A random sample of 290 low-income tobacco users who had not entered the contest were recruited using random digit dialing (control group). Telephone interviews were conducted with both groups at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. Seven-day point prevalence measured self-reported quitting and urine cotinine assessed confirmed quitting. Results. On average, quit and win study participants were 3.5 times more likely than controls to self-report quitting and 12.8 times more likely to demonstrate confirmed quitting after controlling for baseline differences in stage of change, age, education, and marital status. The use of specific contest elements was not related to successful quitting. Conclusions. The overall quit rates in the treatment group were higher than those in the control group. The results are promising given that low-income tobacco users are generally less likely to succeed in quitting.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)543-550
Number of pages8
JournalPreventive Medicine
Volume39
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2004

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study was funded by the American Legacy Foundation. Special thanks to the tobacco users who shared the trials and tribulations of quitting, the tobacco control coordinators of the local health departments in Kentucky who conducted urine tests, the Cancer Information Service of the Mid-South that provided the toll-free telephone quit line, and Lexington Health United that provided the cash prizes. The Bluegrass Quit and Win Partnership received the 2002 Champion for Tobacco-Free Communities Award from the National Association of City and County Health Officials.

Keywords

  • Population based
  • Smoking cessation
  • Tobacco use

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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