A behavioural smoking treatment based on perceived risks of quitting: A preliminary feasibility and acceptability study with female smokers

Abstract

Introduction: Even treatments showing proven efficacy leave the majority of female smokers unable to quit. In response, there has been a special call for novel behavioural treatments, particularly those which target barriers to quitting faced by women. Significant barriers for women who smoke include perceived "risks" associated with cessation (e.g. managing stress and cravings). The purpose of this treatment development study is to test a novel, individualised smoking intervention for female smokers targeting risk perceptions. Methods: Twenty treatment-seeking female daily cigarette smokers were randomly assigned to receive either standard counseling based on the Mayo Clinic's "Smoke Free and Living It" manual or a new manualised treatment based on individual perceived risks of quitting. Primary outcomes were point prevalence smoking abstinence at the end of treatment and at a 1 month follow-up, and changes in smoking from baseline to 1 month follow-up. Results: The manualised perceived risk treatment demonstrated good acceptability and more participants receiving this treatment were abstinent at the end of the trial than participants in the standard counseling condition. Among participants who did not quit smoking, those receiving the perceived risk counseling reported a greater reduction in smoking at the 1 month follow-up (Cohen's d = 0.67). Conclusions: This initial study demonstrated that an intervention targeting perceived risks of quitting was feasible to administer, acceptable to female smokers, and showed promise with regard to smoking outcomes, thus warranting further testing through Stage II clinical trials. Reducing perceived risks of quitting may represent a critical target for smoking treatment development.