Counselling that backed people's own choices helped more smokers be smoke-free at six months.

The study

1. 01

   Who took part

   1,006 adults who smoked at least five cigarettes a day took part in the Rochester area of New York state. Their average age was in the mid-40s, most were women, and many had less schooling than others locally.

2. 02

   What they did

   One group got only a booklet, their cholesterol results and a list of quit programmes. The other also met a counsellor about four times over six months, the first visit lasting about 50 minutes. Counsellors left the decision to each person and helped plan a quit date.

3. 03

   What happened

   Six months in, about 12 in 100 of the counselling group had not smoked that week, against 4 in 100. About 3 in 10 people dropped out before six months, and the study counted them as smoking. At one month, the counselling group felt more able to quit, but their own reasons for quitting were no stronger.

What the study found

1. HelpedGoals

   Smokers who had counselling that supported their own choices were more often smoke-free at six months.

   • Rule: With a coach or therapistused

   Large randomised trial of 1,006 adult smokers in the Rochester area · vs a booklet and a list of quit programmes · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ many people dropped out; summary claims more than the results show

2. HelpedMotivation

   After one month, people who had supportive counselling felt more able to quit than those who got a booklet.

   • Rule: With a coach or therapistused

   Large randomised trial of 1,006 adult smokers in the Rochester area · vs a booklet and a list of quit programmes · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ many people dropped out; summary claims more than the results show

3. No differenceMotivation

   At one month, counselling did not make people's own reasons for quitting stronger than a booklet did.

   • Rule: With a coach or therapistused

   Large randomised trial of 1,006 adult smokers in the Rochester area · vs a booklet and a list of quit programmes · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ many people dropped out; summary claims more than the results show

Source