UW-PASS Projects
In this study, UW-CTRI is collaborating with three health care systems—Dean Health System, UW Health and Aurora Health Care—to deliver seamless, cutting-edge treatments for all smokers, including those who are ready to quit and those who aren’t. Researchers will recruit patients who smoke from clinics in the partnering health systems and use electronic medical records supported by Epic Systems Corp. and Cerner. UW-PASS, sponsored by a P-50 grant from the National Cancer Institute, includes three projects:
- Project 1 focused on increasing the smoker’s motivation to quit. This project offered treatment strategies for smokers who weren’t ready to quit now but were willing to participate in treatment to help them get ready to quit. The hope was to increase their motivation to quit smoking as well as to make actual quit attempts. Treatments included behavioral coaching, motivational interviewing, nicotine patches, and nicotine gum.
- Project 2 of UW-PASS examined whether use of nicotine-replacement medication and behavioral coaching—before actually quitting smoking—helped the patient remain smoke-free. Typically, those who use nicotine-replacement medications (such as the nicotine patch or lozenge) quit smoking first, then use medications to stave off cravings and remain smoke free. Project 2 also tested coaching types and lengths, including in-person coaching vs. telephone coaching.
- Project 3 studied ways to increase the number of patients who take quit-smoking medication at the proper dosage for the prescribed duration. Most smokers don’t use enough medication or use it the right way. The goal was to see what happened when a patient took medication as prescribed vs. skipping doses or ceasing treatment prematurely. Adherence treatments included automated-adherence phone prompts, electronic monitoring/feedback and a cognitive-adherence intervention. Project 3 also examined the outcomes of long-term coaching and medication.
