A randomized controlled trial to assess the effects of reimbursing the costs of smoking cessation therapy on sustained abstinence

Aims We studied whether reimbursement for smoking cessation treatment (SCT) can increase prolonged abstinence from smoking up to 2 years. Setting, participants and design From the general population, we recruited smokers and assigned them randomly to a control group (n = 634) or an intervention group ( n = 632). For 6 months, participants in the intervention group could apply for reimbursement and received information regarding the reimbursed SCT. Participants in the control group received no reimbursement or information. Measurements In this follow-up study, prolonged abstinence from smoking was defined as reported being abstinent from at least 7 days before the end of reimbursement until the follow-up assessment 6 months or 2 years later. Findings At 6 months after the end of reimbursement, 18 participants in the control group (2.8%) and 35 participants (5.5%) in the intervention group reported sustained abstinence for at least 6 months [ odds ratio ( OR) = 2.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-3.6]. Two years after the reimbursement period, 10 participants in the control group (1.6%) and 27 participants in the intervention group (4.3%) still reported sustained abstinence ( OR = 4.1,95% CI 1.7-10.2). The overall effectiveness of SCT increased with reimbursement and was 22% in the intervention group and 8% in the control group after 2 years. Conclusions Reimbursement may be an effective strategy to increase the prolonged abstinence rate even after 2 years.