Randomized trial of four financial-incentive programs for smoking cessation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Financial incentives promote many health behaviors, but effective ways to deliver health incentives remain uncertain.

Methods

We randomly assigned CVS Caremark employees and their relatives and friends to one of four incentive programs or to usual care for smoking cessation. Two of the incentive programs targeted individuals, and two targeted groups of six participants. One of the individual-oriented programs and one of the group-oriented programs entailed rewards of approximately $800 for smoking cessation; the others entailed refundable deposits of $150 plus $650 in reward payments for successful participants. Usual care included informational resources and free smoking-cessation aids.

Results

Overall, 2538 participants were enrolled. Of those assigned to

SUBMITTER: Halpern SD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4471993 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature