Professor Robert West Professor of Health Psychology and Director of Tobacco Studies, Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London and UKCTCS
Abstract
Background: Behavioural support improves likelihood of successful quit attempts. Good evidence on what components of behavioural support were effective has been lacking: recently this picture has begun to change.
Objectives: To establish what components of smoking cessation behavioural support appear to influence success rates.
Methods: To review studies that have sought to identify effective components (behaviour change techniques - BCTs) of behavioural support for smoking cessation through a) inclusion in treatment manuals of programmes that have consistently been found to be effective in clinical trials, and b) inclusion in treatment manuals of stop smoking services that have higher success rates.
Results: Considering the two sources, the BCTs with the strongest overall evidence for effectiveness are: providing information on consequences of smoking/smoking cessation, rewarding abstinence, strengthening ex-smoker identity, assessing expired-CO, providing advice on coping with urges, goal setting, advising on changing routines, advising on effective use of stop smoking medication, asking about experiences of current stop smoking medication, providing options for additional/later support, assessing current/past smoking behaviour, assessing current readiness/ability to quit, offering/directing towards appropriate written materials, and eliciting clients’ views.
Conclusions: It is possible to identify a set of BCTs that evidence suggests should form the core of behavioural support to aid cessation. These should be included in treatment manuals and fidelity in delivering these techniques could usefully be assessed.
Source of funding: National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training and Cancer Research UK
Declaration of interest: Robert West has undertaken research and consultancy for companies that develop and manufacture smoking cessation medications. Robert West has a share of a patent in a novel nicotine delivery device.
