A Randomized Controlled Trial of Financial Incentives for Smoking Cessation

BACKGROUND: Although 435, 000 Americans die each year of tobacco-related illness, only approximately 3% of smokers quit each year. Financial incentives have been shown to be effective in modifying behavior within highly structured settings, such as drug treatment programs, but this has not been shown in treating chronic disease in less structured settings. The objective of this study was to determine whether modest financial incentives increase the rate of smoking cessation program enrollment, completion, and quit rates in a outpatient clinical setting. METHODS: 179 smokers at the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center who reported smoking at least 10 cigarettes per day were randomized into incentive and non-incentive groups. Both groups were offered a free five-class smoking cessation program at the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The incentive group was also offered 20 for each class attended and 100 if they quit smoking 30 days post program completion. Self-reported smoking cessation was confirmed with urine cotinine tests. RESULTS: The incentive group had higher rates of program enrollment (43. 3% versus 20. 2%; P0. 20). CONCLUSION: Modest financial incentives are associated with significantly higher rates of smoking cessation program enrollment and completion and short-term quit rates. Future studies should consider including an incentive for longer-term cessation.