Essential Elements of Self-Help/Minimal Intervention Strategies for Smoking Cessation

Abstract

Two decades of research suggest that self-help/minimal intervention strategies for smoking cessation may be the preferred means by which smokers stop and can produce success rates approximating those of more formal programs, at lower cost and with greater access to relevant populations. In order to make the best possible use of these self-help/minimal intervention approaches, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) supported a series of randomized, controlled intervention trials and, in June of 1988, convened an Expert Advisory Panel to address the question "What are the essential elements of self-help/minimal intervention strategies for smoking cessation?". The panel's recommendations were that: (1) Intervention efforts should focus on increasing smokers' motivations to make serious quit attempts; (2) Delivery of programs be broadened to include all smokers; (3) Programs be targeted to stages of cessation and specific populations; (4) All programs include (a) elements focused on health and social consequences of smoking, and (b) strategies and exercises aimed at quitting, maintenance of nonsmoking, relapse prevention, and recycling; (5) Materials and programs be made widely available rather than "fine tuning" existing programs or developing new ones; and (6) Programs make use of specific adjunctive strategies. In this way, a reacceleration of the decline in smoking prevalence may be realized in the 1990s and significantly contribute to the NCI's Year 2000 goals and the Surgeon General's aim of a smoke-free society.

Smoking Cessation Research via the Internet: A Feasibility Study

“…This is comparable with other studies of self-help interventions (Curry, 1993) as well as the results reported by Schneider and colleagues (1990). Additional progress toward the goal of cessation was suggested by a 75% increase over baseline in participants' reported intention to quit smoking, which is considered to be a primary goal of minimal contact=self-help interventions (Glynn, Boyd, & Gruman, 1990).…”

Minimal smoking cessation interventions in prenatal, family planning, and well-child public health clinics

“…[11][12][13][14][15][16] Current recommendations are that minimal smoking cessation interventions be incorporated in routine primary health care and that these interventions include, as a minimum, provider advice to quit smoking and written material or other help for quitting. [17][18][19] Most health professionals are aware and approve of these recommendations and report applying them to many of their patients. [20][21][22] However, studies show that smoking cessation interventions are not consistently delivered to patients.…”

La intervención de autoayuda por correo en el tratamiento de fumadores

“…Existen una serie de ventajas potenciales de los tratamientos de autoayuda con manual, entre las que se incluye un mayor mantenimiento de los efectos del tratamiento (Glasgow, Schafer y O'Neill, 1981), lo cual es de vital importancia, puesto que la recaída constituye el principal problema de todas las conductas adictivas. Otras ventajas de la utilización de manuales son (Curry, 1993): 1) la posibilidad de ser aplicados por personal no especializado; 2) distribución a un bajo coste en una variedad de contextos; 3) se pueden elaborar para diferentes poblaciones diana (p.ej., basándose en el estadio de cambio o en características específicas de los fumadores); 4) los fumadores pueden adapteu-el programa a sus necesidades específicas (por ejemplo, variar el orden en que se realicen los ejercicios recomendados), pueden seguirlo a su ritmo y terminarlo más tarde; 5) por la posibilidad de guardar los materiales escritos, los fumadores, que fracasan en su intento de abandono del tabaco, pueden repetir con facilidad el programa (Glynn, Boyd y Gruman, 1990a) y, en caso de haber conseguido la abstinencia y experimentar momentos de tentación o consumos puntuales, se pueden utilizar para trabajar la motivación y reafirmarse en la decisión de mantenerse abstinente.…”

“…Vcirios expertos han indicado que los manuales para dejar de fumar deberí-an adaptarse a las características sociodemográficas, culturales y relacionadas con fumar de los fumadores (p.ej., Strecher, Rimer y Monaco, 1989; Glynn et al, 1990aGlynn et al, ,1990b, pues ello contribuiría a lograr porcentajes de abstinencia más altos que con los manuales estándar. Esto ha derivado en la realización de estudios utilizando la adaptación de los materiales, a través de distintos procedimientos, a poblaciones específicas de fumadores.…”