The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: to evaluate the effectiveness of the 2004 Quit and Win contest in Argentina by estimating one year smoking abstinence and to identify abstinence predictors.

Methods: we selected a random sample of 3.000 from the 26,000 participants and conducted a telephone interview using an adaptation of the Quit and Win standard evaluation questionnaire. We calculated self-reported continued abstinence after a year and examined predictor variables with a multiple logistic regression model.

Results: Response rate was 77.8%, mean age of respondents was 36.5 years (s.d. 12.2), 56.5% were men, 60% had a university degree, the majority enrolled via internet and lived in Buenos Aires or its suburbs. Mean number of cigarettes smoked daily was 19.4 (s.d. 10.4), 80% were exposed to environmental tobacco smoke at home or at work and 20% were abstainers after a year. Main reasons for recidivism were stress (23%), withdrawal symptoms (30%) and socialising with smokers (19%). Factor associated with abstinence were being male, increased age and intention to quit smoking completely. Discussion: The contest was an effective strategy to achieve smoking cessation. The impact of the intervention increases with increasing enrollment. Future contests should improve access of diversified segments of the population.