Cancer Control Research
5R01CA064285-04
Fortmann, Stephen P.
SMOKELESS TOBACCO--NICOTINE PATCH & SELF HELP TREATMENT
AbstractSmokeless tobacco use is a serious health threat to the approximately 6
million regular users of the drug causing various cancers and other
health problems. The California Baseline Smoking Survey 199O-1991 found
a region in northern California which had a smokeless tobacco use rate
of 10.4% among their adult males as compared to a 3.5% rate across the
whole state and 6% nationally. Very little is currently known about
effective methods of cessation for smokeless tobacco. To date there have
been only three published studies of adult smokeless tobacco cessation
interventions. None of these published studies has examined the use of
nicotine replacement therapy.
In this study we propose to conduct a randomized experiment comparing the
effectiveness of self-help materials plus nicotine patch and self-help
materials plus placebo patch with 400 smokeless tobacco users. In this
double blind study, subjects will be screened and interviewed by phone
and receive materials and patches from pharmacists trained in the study
protocol. All subjects will set a quit date prior to receiving the
intervention and will be provided with phone support/counseling
approximately one week after their set quit date. All 400 smokeless
tobacco users will be assessed at baseline,3, 6, and 12 months and saliva
cotinine verification of tobacco use status will be done at 6 months.
In addition to the randomized trial, we propose to study a general
population sample (N=150) of smokeless tobacco users selected through
random-digit dial telephone interviewing to explore differences between
smokeless tobacco users in general and users who participate in the-
cessation interventions. The sample will be measured at baseline and at
3, 6, and 12 month intervals.
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