Targeting Smokers with Low Readiness to Change with Tailored and Nontailored Self-Help Materials,

Background.Few smoking cessation self-help materials are available for smokers who are not planning to quit. However, computer-tailored interventions can be designed specifically for these smokers. Methods.In a large randomized field trial (N= 843), two different tailored smoking cessation self-help interventions (multiple tailoring and single tailoring) and one standardized smoking cessation self-help guide were compared with a no-information control group and with each other. The contents of the tailored interventions were adapted to individualsʹ self-reported stage of change, outcome expectations, self-efficacy levels, and smoking behavior. Results.The primary outcome measure was forward stage transition. The standardized self-help guide had no effect. Among smokers who were not planning to quit within the next 5 years the multiple-tailored intervention was more effective than the single-tailored in tervention. This pattern was supported by the cognitive changes caused by the interventions. Among smokers who were planning to quit within the next 5 years but not within the next 6 months, none of the self-help materials had any effect. Conclusion.The present results show that the self-help material currently available in the Netherlands, the standardized self-help guide, was not effective among smokers with low readiness to change. However, computer-generated tailored interventions seem a promising means of communicating information on smoking and smoking cessation to these smokers.