Efficacy of a minimal contact version of a multimodal smoking cessation program.

A five-week multimodal smoking cessation program was delivered in two formats: Weekly Contact Group meetings led by graduate student leaders versus a minimal contact By-Mail version consisting of weekly mailings of program materials. By-Mail subjects also had access to a "hotline" number they could call with questions and problems. Of 43 smokers who began the Contact Group program, 37% were abstinent at one-year follow-ups; 41% of the 49 By-Mail subjects were abstinent at one year. These results suggest that cost effective minimal contact cessation programs can benefit the many smokers who are unwilling or unable to visit cessation clinics.