Large-scale study of freedom from smoking clinics--factors in quitting.

The American Lung Association's Freedom From Smoking Clinics are widely available in the community and at the worksite for smokers who wish the help of a formal group program in quitting the habit. Little has been published on their outcomes. A study of 494 smokers attending 42 Freedom From Smoking Clinics in western New York State showed that 29 percent reported not smoking about 1 year after attending the clinic sessions. There was a wide range of quit rates over different clinics, but the rates were similar for men and women and for different age groups. Those initially smoking less than one pack per day were more likely to be successful in quitting than heavier smokers. Quit rates were similar in work site groups and in the community clinics. Perceptions of having received group support at the clinic were also related to higher success rates. Research on group composition and process might be a fruitful road to raising what seems to be a ceiling on the success of current techniques.