Partner-Involved Financial Incentives for Smoking Cessation in Dual-Smoker Couples: A Randomized Pilot Trial

• Published in: Nicotine & tobacco research Vol. 26; no. 2; pp. 229 - 236
• Main Authors: vanDellen, Michelle R, Wright, Julian W C, Zhao, Bokai, Cullinan, Caleigh, Beach, Steven R H, Shen, Ye, Haskins, LeeAnn B, Schiavone, William M, MacKillop, James M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: US Oxford University Press 22-01-2024
• Subjects: Humans; Motivation; Original Investigations; Pilot Projects; Smokers; Smoking Cessation - methods; Tobacco Use Cessation Devices
• ISSN: 1469-994X; 1462-2203; 1469-994X
• DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntad183

Abstract
Introduction
Members of dual-smoker couples (in which both partners smoke) are unlikely to try to quit smoking and are likely to relapse if they do make an attempt. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility, tolerability, and preliminary outcomes of dyadic adaptations of financial incentive treatments (FITs) to promote smoking cessation in dual-smoker couples.
Aims and Methods
We enrolled 95 dual-smoker couples (N = 190) in a three-arm feasibility RCT comparing two partner-involved FITs (single vs. dual incentives) against a no-treatment control condition. Participants in all conditions were offered nicotine replacement and psychoeducation. A 3-month follow-up provided information about retention, tolerability (ie, self-reported benefits and costs of the study), and preliminary efficacy (ie, program completion, quit attempts, point-prevalent abstinence, and joint quitting).
Results
Results suggest dyadic adaptations were feasible to implement (89% retention rate) and highly tolerable for participants (p < .001). Neither feasibility nor tolerability varied across the treatment arm. Preliminary efficacy outcomes indicated partner-involved FITs have promise for increasing smoking cessation in dual-smoker couples (OR = 2.36–13.06).
Conclusions
Dyadic implementations of FITs are feasible to implement and tolerable to participants.
Implications
The evidence that dyadic adaptations of FITs were feasible and tolerable, and the positive preliminary efficacy outcomes suggest that adequately powered RCTs formally evaluating the efficacy of dyadic adaptations of FITs for dual-smoker couples are warranted.