The effects of a deposit contract as a component in a behavioural programme for stopping smoking

Behaviour Research and TherapyPublished 1 January 1980

Roger Paxton

DOI10.1016/0005-7967(80)90068-6

Source URL

Citations55

SJR quartileQ1

SJR score2.01

SNIP1.64

TL;DR

Evidence is presented to show that the deposit procedure had a specific effect on smoking rather than a more general effect on attendance rates, and Urinary nicotine analysis appeared effective in deterring as well as detecting faking.

Abstract

A contract procedure is described in which a money deposit provided by cigarette smokers at the time of stopping smoking is returned at set intervals contingent on their having not smoked. Outcome results up to 6 months after the stop smoking date are presented for 33 smokers who used this procedure as a component in a behavioural programme, and for 27 smokers who received the same treatment package but without the deposit component. The results for both groups are encouraging, and in the short term the deposit group did significantly better than the no-deposit group. Reasons for the failure of this difference to be maintained are discussed, and it is suggested that long term results would be improved by holding deposits over a longer interval. Other evidence is presented to show that the deposit procedure had a specific effect on smoking rather than a more general effect on attendance rates. Deposit contracts also appear acceptable to smokers. Urinary nicotine analysis appeared effective in deterring as well as detecting faking.

Keywords

Medicine

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