Talk to the Veterans Crisis Line now
U.S. flag
An official website of the United States government
Veterans Benefits and Health Care About VA Find a VA Location

VA Health Systems Research

Go to the VA ORD website
Go to the QUERI website

HSR&D Citation Abstract

Search | Search by Center | Search by Source | Keywords in Title

Public opinion about financial incentives for smoking cessation.

Park JD, Mitra N, Asch DA. Public opinion about financial incentives for smoking cessation. Preventive medicine. 2012 Nov 1; 55 Suppl:S41-5.

Dimensions for VA is a web-based tool available to VA staff that enables detailed searches of published research and research projects.

If you have VA-Intranet access, click here for more information vaww.hsrd.research.va.gov/dimensions/

VA staff not currently on the VA network can access Dimensions by registering for an account using their VA email address.    Search Dimensions for VA for this citation
* Don't have VA-internal network access or a VA email address? Try searching the free-to-the-public version of Dimensions


Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess public support for a smoking cessation policy involving financial incentives. METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled trial using an experimental survey design. One of four questionnaire versions was distributed to participants. Each version described a smoking cessation treatment costing $750 per success, including an unspecified treatment, medication, or financial incentive paid to the smoker. Participants indicated whether they would support a $25 increase in their annual health insurance premium to pay for the treatment. Questionnaires were distributed to adults waiting at public transportation depots in Philadelphia between May and August 2010. RESULTS: 1010 individuals completed the questionnaires about willingness to support the policy: 53% female, 27% African-American, 18% current smokers, and 46% with a household income below $40,000. The response rate was greater than 50%. Overall support for all smoking cessation treatments was 41.6%. The financial incentive version received the lowest support (39.3%) but that support did not statistically differ from the treatment (45.8%, p = 0.14) or medication (41.7%, p = 0.58) versions. CONCLUSIONS: Financial incentives were perceived no differently than currently used medications for smoking cessation. Most participants did not support any smoking cessation treatment options.




Questions about the HSR website? Email the Web Team

Any health information on this website is strictly for informational purposes and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any condition.