Costs of Giving Out Free Nicotine Patches Through a Telephone Quit Line

Abstract

Many telephone quit lines provide free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to smokers who are trying to stop smoking. However, providing free NRT to smokers can be costly. To compare NRT usage patterns, quit rate, and costs of giving smokers calling a telephone quit line different amounts of free NRT. A 3-group randomized trial was conducted. A total of 2806 adult smokers of 10+ cigarettes per day who called the New York State Smokers' Quit Line (NYSSQL) were sent different amounts of nicotine patches for free as follows: (1) a 2-week supply of nicotine patches, (2) a 4-week supply, and (3) a 6-week supply. In addition, all study participants received a free stop smoking guide plus 1 proactive follow-up call attempt conducted 2 weeks after initially contacting the NYSSQL. Of the 2806 enrolled participants, 1682 completed the 7-month follow-up to assess their use of the NRT sent to them and smoking status. Nicotine patch usage, quit rates, reductions in cigarette consumption, and cost-effectiveness measures. Most respondents (85%) reported using the nicotine patches sent to them, although the amount used varied in direct proportion to the amount sent. The 7- and 30-day nonsmoker prevalence rates measured at 7-month follow-up did not differ significantly between the 3 groups. The cost per attributable quit was also not significantly different between the 3 groups. Sending out more than a free 2-week supply of patches to smokers who contact a quit line is no more effective in achieving smoking cessation than sending just 2 weeks of patches.