Financial Incentives Proven Effective in Helping People Quit Smoking, Including Pregnant Individuals
Financial incentives have been identified as a successful method to assist individuals in quitting smoking, according to a recent Cochrane review led by a public health and health policy researcher from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The study revealed “high-certainty evidence” that this intervention is particularly effective for pregnant people, marking a significant breakthrough in smoking cessation strategies.
Previous research had already suggested that financial rewards could motivate pregnant individuals to stop smoking, but the latest review provided more concrete evidence to support this claim. “We found high-certainty evidence this time that indeed they help people who are pregnant quit smoking and stay quit,” explained Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, the senior author of the study and an assistant professor at the School of Public Health and Health Sciences.
The review included 47 studies conducted across various regions, encompassing nearly 22,000 participants. The researchers found that financial incentives significantly improved smoking cessation rates in the long term, even after the incentives were no longer provided. Additionally, a separate analysis of 13 studies involving pregnant individuals demonstrated that for every 100 participants who received financial incentives, 13 were likely to successfully quit smoking compared to only six in the control group.
Notably, the value of the incentives offered varied widely among the studies, ranging from cash rewards to vouchers. Surprisingly, the study found that the amount of the incentive did not correlate with the success rate of smoking cessation. This suggests that the effectiveness of financial incentives lies in their motivational impact rather than their monetary value.
The research, carried out in collaboration with the University of East Anglia, the University of Oxford, and the University of Edinburgh, emphasized the importance of implementing incentives to support smoking cessation efforts. Lead author Caitlin Notley, a professor of addiction sciences at UEA, highlighted the significant role that incentives play in helping individuals— including pregnant individuals—quit smoking successfully.
Despite some reservations regarding the use of financial incentives in behavior change interventions, Hartmann-Boyce emphasized the positive impact of such strategies in promoting smoking cessation. She pointed to California as a pioneering example, where financial incentives, in the form of small-value gift cards, are offered to individuals who successfully quit using stimulants.
The success of these incentive programs underscores the importance of adopting evidence-based approaches to support individuals in their journey towards quitting smoking. By addressing the psychological reward mechanisms associated with nicotine addiction, financial incentives have proven to be a valuable tool in helping individuals overcome their smoking habits.
In conclusion, the Cochrane review reaffirms the effectiveness of financial incentives in promoting smoking cessation, particularly among pregnant individuals. By offering tangible rewards for achieving smoking cessation goals, these programs not only incentivize behavior change but also contribute to improved public health outcomes.
