A Pilot Clinical Trial of Smoking Cessation Services Implemented in the Workplace for Service Industry Employees

Abstract

Purpose:

Evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of implementing evidence-based tobacco treatment at the workplace for service industry employees.

Design:

Randomized trial using 6 paired worksites (3 test and 3 delayed intervention control sites).

Setting:

US Northeast city.

Participants:

Employees were recruited from university food service settings.

Intervention:

Comprehensive smoking treatment was provided at the workplace including individual counseling, free pharmacotherapy (dual nicotine replacement therapy or varenicline), and 5 weeks of contingency management that reinforced abstinence or reductions in smoking to encourage progress toward quitting.

Measures:

Primary measures included a smoking status survey administered at the end of treatment at the test sites and before treatment began at the delayed intervention control sites.

Analysis:

Analyses compared rates of quit attempts and successful abstinence for at least 24 hours between the test and delayed intervention control sites.

Results:

Twenty-five employees were enrolled in treatment. The majority were single (12/25), black (16/25), and reported their educational attainment as high school or less (18/25). Employees in the test (vs delayed intervention control) sites reported higher rates of quit attempts (66.7% vs 12.5%, P = .02) and success quitting for at least 24 hours (53.3% vs 12.5%, P = .08). Participants rated the treatment as very helpful overall.

Conclusion:

Findings support the feasibility and efficacy of providing workplace-based smoking cessation services and may inform strategies to increase access to treatment.