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You can't pay me to quit: the failure of financial incentives for smoking cessation in head and neck cancer patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2016

A Ghosh ,
G Philiponis ,
A Bewley ,
E R Ransom  and
N Mirza
A Ghosh*
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
G Philiponis
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
A Bewley
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of California, Davis, USA
E R Ransom
Affiliation:
Center for Facial Plastic, Reconstructive, and Laser Surgery, San Francisco, California, USA
N Mirza
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Ankona Ghosh, Department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, 5 Ravdin, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA E-mail: ankonag@mail.med.upenn.edu
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Abstract

Objective:

A prospective randomised study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital to evaluate the effects of financial incentives for smoking cessation targeted at a high-risk population.

Methods:

Patients with a past history of head and neck cancer were voluntarily enrolled over a two-year period. They were randomised to a cash incentives or no incentive group. Subjects were offered enrolment in smoking cessation courses. Smoking by-product levels were assessed at 30 days, 3 months and 6 months. Subjects in the incentive group received $150 if smoking cessation was confirmed.

Results:

Over 2 years, 114 patients with an established diagnosis of head and neck cancer were offered enrolment. Twenty-four enrolled and 14 attended the smoking cessation classes. Only two successfully quit smoking at six months. Both these patients were in the financially incentivised group and received $150 at each test visit.

Conclusion:

Providing a financial incentive for smoking cessation to a population already carrying a diagnosis of head and neck cancer in order to promote a positive behaviour change was unsuccessful.

Keywords

Smoking CessationQuality Of LifeHead And Neck CancerIncentive Reimbursement
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 130 , Issue 3 , March 2016 , pp. 278 - 283
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2016 

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Footnotes

Presented at the Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings, 10–14 April 2013, Orlando, Florida, USA.

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