Targeting Nonsmokers to Help Smokers Quit: Features of a Large-scale Intervention. (July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tedeschi, Gary J; Zoref, Leslie S; Cummins, Sharon E; Zhu, Shu-Hong
• Is Part Of: Tobacco use insights. Volume 13(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-07
• Subjects: Smoking cessation -- social support -- materials intervention -- health messaging; Nicotine -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Nicotine addiction -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Tobacco -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Tobacco use -- Health aspects -- Periodicals; Tobacco use -- Periodicals; Tobacco Use; Tobacco Use Disorder -- therapy; Nicotine addiction -- Treatment; Nicotine -- Physiological effect; Tobacco -- Physiological effect; Tobacco use; Tobacco use -- Health aspects; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; Periodicals; 616.865
• DOI: 10.1177/1179173X20943565
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1179-173X

Abstract

Smoking continues to be a major public health problem, despite a substantial decline in prevalence rates over the last decades. Quit smoking interventions typically target smokers, whether through individual or group treatment or through broader public health campaigns. Yet, nonsmokers represent a vast and largely untapped resource to help smokers quit. This article describes an innovative approach that targeted nonsmokers through a media-style campaign with repeated reminders about smoking cessation. We tested the nonsmoker intervention in a large randomized trial and showed it to be effective in helping smokers quit. Components of the intervention included repeated mailings with relevant cessation messages over a 10-week period, 2 brief check-in telephone calls, and access to a study Web site. In this article, we discuss details of the intervention development, content, and implementation.