The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: The Kentucky Cancer Program conducted a state-wide pilot study to determine the effectiveness of the newly developed self-help version of the Cooper-Clayton Method to Stop Smoking. The original Cooper-Clayton Method to Stop Smoking group method has shown one-year success rates of non-smoking between 40-45%. However, despite the effectiveness of the Cooper-Clayton group program, some smokers cannot or will not participate because of a variety of barriers including travel distance or difficulty committing to thirteen weekly sessions.

Methods: This was a non-randomized prospective cohort study in which pre-test data was collected before the intervention, and post-test data was collected at 12 and 24 weeks. Recruitment measures included radio, newspaper and community presentations. All subjects were volunteers who lived in Kentucky, were over 18 years old and were interested in becoming non-smokers. A menu of options for additional support to augment the self-help method was provided to all participants including a website, supportive postcards, and additional smoking cessation services.

Results: Throughout the state, 320 participants enrolled in the study. The majority of the participants were female (64%), and almost 70% lived in eastern Kentucky where smoking and lung cancer rates are higher than the rest of the state. Participants' ages ranged from 18 - 83. Preliminary data showed that 31% of eligible participants responded at 12 weeks and of those, 38% were non-smokers. Participants who were smoke-free at 12 weeks, were also followed at 24 weeks – 68% responded to the 24 week survey and of those, 69% remained non-smokers.