Implementation of Financial Incentives for Successful Smoking Cessation in Real-Life Company Settings: A Qualitative Needs Assessment among Employers

Floor A. van den Brand*, Tessa Magnee, Lotte de Haan-Bouma, Cas Barendregt, Niels H. Chavannes, Onno C. P. van Schayck, Gera E. Nagelhout

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

5 Citations (Web of Science)

Abstract

Randomized studies have shown that financial incentives can significantly increase the effect of smoking cessation treatment in company settings. Evidence of effectiveness alone is, however, not enough to ensure that companies will offer this intervention. Knowledge about the barriers and facilitators for implementation in the workplace is needed, in order to develop an implementation strategy. We performed a qualitative needs assessment among 18 employers working in companies with relatively many employees with a low educational level, and our study revealed priority actions that aim to improve the implementation process in these types of workplaces. First, employers need training and support in how to reach their employees and convince them to take part in the group training. Second, employers need to be convinced that their non-smoking employees will not consider the incentives unfair, or they should be enabled to offer alternative incentives that are considered less unfair. Third, the cost-effectiveness of smoking cessation group trainings including financial incentives should be explained to employers. Finally, smoking cessation should become a standard part of workplace-based health policies.

Original languageEnglish
Article number5135
Number of pages16
JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume16
Issue number24
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 16 Dec 2019

Keywords

  • smoking cessation
  • financial incentives
  • workplace
  • employers
  • employees
  • smokers
  • intervention
  • qualitative interview
  • WELLNESS PROGRAMS
  • ACCEPTABILITY
  • INTERVENTIONS
  • SMOKERS
  • IMPACT

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