Effects of Internet‐based Voucher Reinforcement and a Transdermal Nicotine Patch on Cigarette Smoking

Abstract

Nicotine replacement products are commonly used to promote smoking cessation, but alternative and complementary methods may increase cessation rates. The current experiment compared the short-term effects of a transdermal nicotine patch to voucher-based reinforcement of smoking abstinence on cigarette smoking. Fourteen heavy smokers (7 men and 7 women) completed the four 5-day phases of the study: baseline, patch treatment, voucher treatment, and return to baseline. The order of the two treatment phases was counterbalanced across participants. In the patch treatment condition, participants wore a 14-mg transdermal nicotine patch every day. In the voucher treatment condition, participants received vouchers contingent on abstinence from smoking, defined as producing carbon monoxide (CO) readings of < or =4 parts per million. Participants e-mailed two video clips per day showing them breathing into a CO monitor and the resulting CO reading to clinic staff. In the voucher treatment, 24% of samples were negative, and 5% of samples were negative in the patch treatment. Results suggest that contingent vouchers were more effective than transdermal nicotine patches in promoting abstinence.

Computer-Assisted Delivery of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Addiction: A Randomized Trial of CBT4CBT

“…However, there have been few evaluations of computer-assisted treatment, of any type, for the addictions. Much of this work has been done in the area of smoking, where several randomized trials of predominantly cognitive-behavioral interventions or self-help guidelines delivered via computers/internet have indicated positive effects on quit rates or attempts (27)(28)(29). Computerassisted brief motivational approaches and self-control training programs have shown promise in randomized controlled trials with problem drinkers (30,31) and college students (32).…”

Internet-based contingency management to promote smoking cessation: A randomized controlled study

“…Recently, researchers and clinicians have harnessed the Internet and mobile phones to deliver behavioral health interventions for a range of problems (Boyer, Smelson, Fletcher, Ziedonis, & Picard, 2010; Gainsbury & Blaszczynski, 2011; Goodwin, Velicer, & Intille, 2008; Marsch & Dallery, 2012), including smoking cessation (e.g., Cobb, Graham, Byron, Niaura, & Abrams, 2011; Japuntich et al, 2006; McDaniel & Stratton, 2006; Seidman et al, 2010). For example, Dallery and colleagues developed and tested an Internet-based contingency management intervention to promote smoking cessation (Dallery & Glenn, 2005; Dallery, Glenn, & Raiff, 2007; Dallery, Meredith, & Glenn, 2008; Dallery & Raiff, 2011; Glenn & Dallery, 2007; Stoops et al, 2009). Breath carbon monoxide (CO) was verified by observing participants providing their samples via a web camera.…”

Applied Behavior Analysis: Understanding and Changing Behavior in the Community—A Representative Review

“…Smoking has been targeted in some research. Glenn and Dallery (2007) compared the effects of a transdermal nicotine patch and an Internet-based voucher system (a positive reinforcement procedure) on cigarette smoking. The dependent variable was the concentration of carbon monoxide in breath tests obtained through video and computer readings obtained at home and transmitted to the researchers through the Internet.…”