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Commit to Quit

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

Commit to Quit is a smoking cessation program specifically for women. Despite having similar quit rates, women are more likely than men to resume smoking. The program combines regular, vigorous physical exercise with group cessation programming to address concerns about weight gain, stress reduction, and social support. Group cognitive-behavioral programming include traditional topics such as self-monitoring, stimulus control, coping with cravings, and relaxation techniques, as well as topics targeted toward women such as healthy eating, weight management, mood management, and balancing work and family. The exercise component is tailored to the individual and involves attending three aerobic exercise sessions per week.

Goal / Mission

The goal of Commit to Quit is to help female smokers quit smoking through group programming and exercise.

Results / Accomplishments

At three months following the program, more Commit to Quit participants had not smoked for the previous seven days (24.6%) than those in a control group that received only group programming with no exercise component (13.6%). Participants were significantly more likely to be continuously abstinent during treatment (19.4% vs. 10.2%), at the 3-month follow-up (16.4% vs. 8.2%, p < 0.03), and at the 12-month follow-up (11.9% vs. 5.4%, p < 0.05). Participants also achieved significantly more days of continuous abstinence (p < 0.01) and were about 35% less likely (p < 0.03) to have relapsed at all follow-ups. Among quitters, intervention participants gained significantly less weight and had increased exercise functional capacity. Due to the success of this program, it has been implemented across the nation in YMCA settings.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
The Miriam Hospital Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine
Primary Contact
Bess H. Marcus, PhD
Director of the Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine
1 Hoppin Street
Providence, RI 02903
401-793-8003
bmarcus@lifespan.org
http://www.miriamhospital.org/centers-and-services...
Topics
Health / Alcohol & Drug Use
Health / Physical Activity
Health / Women's Health
Organization(s)
The Miriam Hospital Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine
Source
National Cancer Institute Research-tested Intervention Programs
Date of publication
1999
Date of implementation
1996
Location
USA
For more details
Target Audience
Women