Real-life effectiveness of smoking cessation delivery modes: A Comparison Against Telephone Counseling and the Role of Individual Characteristics and Health Conditions in Quit Success

INTRODUCTION: Professional behavioural counselling for smoking cessation can be delivered in many forms, which may not work equally well for everyone. We aim to explore in a real-world setting whether different delivery modes yield different rates of quit success and whether quit success varies based on gender, age, educational level and being treated for a health condition. METHODS: We used monitoring data (n=13747) from a smoking cessation counselling provider in the Netherlands (September 2018 - August 2021) to compare differences in quit success immediately after the end of counselling and at 12-month follow-up between telephone and other modes of counselling. Participants chose which mode of counselling they received. At 12-month follow-up, we also examined differences in quit success based on demographic characteristics and whether one is being treated for various health conditions. RESULTS: Participants of in-person group counselling and online in-company group counselling were significantly more likely to have quit immediately after the counselling compared to telephone counselling (OR 1.25, 95%CI=1.08-1.44; OR 1.63, 95%CI=1.18-2.24). Analyses revealed no significant differences in quit success between telephone and other modes of counselling after 12 months. Those treated for a respiratory or psychological condition were less likely to have maintained quit success, as were women, and participants with a lower educational level. CONCLUSIONS: When chosen by oneself, the mode of smoking cessation counselling received does not appear to be important for long-term quit success. However, certain groups warrant extra support to prevent excessive programme attrition and unsuccessful quit attempts. IMPLICATIONS: Our findings suggest that when chosen by oneself, the delivery mode of smoking cessation counselling does not appear to be important for long-term quit success. This finding is of particular relevance for those who are unable to attend in-person cessation counselling due to, for instance, reduced accessibility or mobility. We also found that women, lower educated and younger participants were more likely to drop out of the cessation programme or to not have maintained a quit attempt, signalling that disparities in smoking cessation persist when standardised counselling is given, and therefore more tailored counselling may be necessary for these groups.