Financial incentives have proven to be successful in helping people quit smoking, according to a recent Cochrane review co-led by a University of Massachusetts Amherst researcher. This review also highlighted the efficacy of financial incentives in assisting pregnant individuals to quit smoking, marking the first time such high-certainty evidence has been found in this population.
The study, which included 47 mixed-population studies and 13 studies focusing on pregnant individuals, demonstrated that financial rewards significantly improve smoking cessation rates in the long term, even after the incentives are no longer provided. The researchers found that for every 100 pregnant persons who received financial incentives, 13 were likely to successfully quit smoking at six months or longer, compared to six in 100 who did not receive such incentives.
The value of the financial incentives varied across the studies, ranging from cash rewards to vouchers, with amounts ranging from zero to $1,185. Interestingly, the research did not find a correlation between the value of the incentive and the quit rate. This suggests that the act of offering a reward itself, rather than the specific amount, plays a crucial role in motivating individuals to quit smoking.
Lead author Caitlin Notley from the University of East Anglia emphasized the importance of incentives in helping people, including pregnant individuals, quit smoking more effectively. The study’s findings provide strong evidence supporting the use of financial rewards as a valuable tool in smoking cessation efforts.
Senior author Jamie Hartmann-Boyce highlighted the significance of offering financial incentives to individuals struggling with nicotine addiction. She emphasized that these incentives tap into the brain’s reward systems, aiding individuals who have tried and failed to quit smoking multiple times. Hartmann-Boyce also pointed out the success of similar incentive programs in treating stimulant use disorders, such as methamphetamine and cocaine addiction.
The study’s results underscore the effectiveness of financial incentives in promoting smoking cessation and provide valuable insights into strategies for supporting individuals, especially pregnant individuals, in their efforts to quit smoking. By leveraging the psychological mechanisms of reward, these incentive programs offer a promising approach to addressing the challenges of nicotine addiction and improving public health outcomes.
The research, conducted in collaboration with UMass Amherst, the University of Oxford, and the University of Edinburgh, sheds light on the potential of financial incentives to drive positive behavior change and support individuals in overcoming addiction. With the growing recognition of the benefits of incentive-based interventions, more states are now exploring the implementation of similar programs to help individuals lead healthier, smoke-free lives.
