Health

Smokers Have Better Luck Quitting When Own Money Wagered

Published

10 years ago

May 14, 2015

In this Tuesday, June 3, 2008 file photo, an employee smokes a cigarette at a bar and restaurant in Harrisburg, Pa. In a study released Wednesday, May 13, 2015, smokers with $150 of their own money at stake were far more likely to quit than smokers who didnt have to wager their money to get cash rewards. "A bit of a stick was much better than pure carrot," said the study's lead author, Dr. Scott Halpern of the University of Pennsylvania. But heres the catch: Few people were willing to bet on themselves. Nearly everyone who was offered the rewards-only option, though, signed up for a stop smoking program. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

In a study released Wednesday, May 13, 2015, smokers with $150 of their own money at stake were far more likely to quit than smokers who didnt have to wager their money to get cash rewards. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Mike Stobbe, ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK (AP) — When it comes to offering cash to get smokers to quit, more people go for the carrots than the stick — but the stick gets better results.

In a study released Wednesday, smokers with $150 of their own money at stake were far more likely to quit than smokers who didn’t have to wager their money to get the cash rewards.

“A bit of a stick was much better than pure carrot,” said the study’s lead author, Dr. Scott Halpern of the University of Pennsylvania.

But here’s the catch: Few people were willing to bet on themselves. Nearly everyone who was offered the rewards-only option, though, signed up for a stop smoking program.

As employers try to hold down health care costs, growing numbers of them have been using financial incentives to encourage workers to quit smoking or get healthier in other ways. But there’s been relatively little research on what works best, said senior author Dr. Kevin Volpp.

The Penn researchers collaborated with CVS Health, the second largest U.S. drugstore operator, for the study. About 2,500 smokers took part — CVS employees, their relatives or friends.
THE INCENTIVES

Past research has found money is persuasive. Volpp and his colleagues tried to see what difference it made if employees stood not only to win money for quitting, but also to lose money.

About 1,000 smokers were offered the chance to win up to $800 if they could quit for six months. Participation was high — about 90 percent signed up.

Another 1,000 were asked to put $150 down as a deposit. It they quit for six months, they would get their $150 back plus $650 — a total of $800. Only 14 percent took that offer.

Another group of about 500 were offered no cash incentive, but did get the company’s standard offering of counseling and nicotine replacement therapy.
THE OUTCOME

The few that put in their own money were a committed bunch. About half of them made it six months without a cigarette. That was a much better than the 17 percent of the rewards-only group that made it to the finish line.

But there were so many people in the rewards-only program that the actual number who quit in that group was much higher — 156, compared to 78.

Only 28 of the people offered no cash incentives quit — a measly 6 percent.

To get the largest number of people to stop, “it looks like the better bet might be for employers to supply pure reward,” said Cliff Douglas, the American Cancer Society’s vice president for tobacco control. He was not involved in the research.

The study was published in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine.
TOO-HIGH STAKES

The study’s authors say there’s a compelling story in the success rate for the smokers who had money on the line. But they also say the $150 deposit apparently scared many away.

One participant, Camelia Escarcego of Rialto, California, said she is unemployed and wouldn’t have been able to come up with the deposit. Her sister works for CVS and Escarcego ended up in the rewards-only group.

A 12-year smoker, Escarcego, 55, said the hundreds of dollars was enough motivation.

“That helped me to have a little bit of money in my pocket,” she said.

Next month, CVS is to launch a quit smoking program for its 200,000 employees that will require a lower deposit of $50 and will award $700 to those who quit for a year.

___

Online:

Journal: http://www.nejm.org.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

###

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LIVE! — TOWN HALL ON RACISM AND ITS IMPACT — THURS. 11.14.24 5PM PST

Join us for a LIVE Virtual Town Hall on the Impact of Racism hosted by Post News Group Journalist Carla Thomas and featuring Oakland, CA NAACP President Cynthia Adams & other Special Guests.
Thursday, November 14, 2024, 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. PST

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Discussion Topics:
• Since the pandemic, what battles have the NAACP fought nationally, and how have they impacted us locally?
• What trends are you seeing concerning Racism? Is it more covert or overt?
• What are the top 5 issues resulting from racism in our communities?
• How do racial and other types of discrimination impact local communities?
• What are the most effective ways our community can combat racism and hate?

Your questions and comments will be shared LIVE with the moderators and viewers during the broadcast.

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A Friday panel featuring NAACP Chairman Leon W. Russell and Regina Wilson, Executive Director of California Black Media, examined Project 2025, an initiative perceived as a potential threat to civil rights, healthcare access, and environmental protection. This session emphasized Project 2025’s projected impact on Black communities, noting that policies within the initiative could diminish gains in civil and environmental rights over decades. Russell and Wilson highlighted the need for vigilant monitoring and community mobilization to address these challenges.

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NAACP State Conference President Rick Callender (right) engages in a discussion on voter engagement and community advocacy with NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson during the 37th NAACP California-Hawaii State Convention in Los Angeles. Photo by Rich Woods.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

The 37th NAACP California-Hawaii State Convention concluded on Sunday, Oct 27, following four days of discussions and workshops at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott. Bringing together civil rights leaders, policymakers, and advocates from California and Hawaii, the convention operated under the theme “All In.” The participants discussed critical issues impacting Black communities, including criminal justice reform, health equity, economic empowerment, education, environmental justice, and voting rights.

On Saturday, the President’s Fireside Chat brought together NAACP President Derrick Johnson and CA/HI State Conference President Rick Callender, who discussed the urgency of voter engagement and community advocacy.

Guest speakers included Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA-43), who spoke at the Women in NAACP (WIN) Labor Luncheon about the intersection of labor rights and civil rights. California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond delivered remarks at the Leadership Dinner on education equity, focusing on policies to ensure all students have access to high-quality education.

Honors were given to longtime social justice advocate and former Assemblymember Mike Davis for his work in community activism. At the same time, actor and activist Danny Glover and the Rev. Dr. Amos C. Brown received the 2024 Legacy Hall of Fame Awards, recognizing their lifelong commitments to advancing civil rights.

The convention also offered practical workshops, including “What’s On Your Ballot?,” where coalition leaders provided analyses of California propositions, explaining their potential impacts on community rights and resources. The Voter Turnout Workshop provided background and encouraged participants to promote voter turnout through community-centered outreach strategies.

Sunday’s events closed with a Prayer and Memorial Breakfast honoring the contributions of past and current civil rights leaders.

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By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

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In a recent statement, Bonta highlighted the potential threats to this essential legislation amid ongoing discussions about healthcare accessibility in the U.S.

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As discussions around healthcare policy continue, Bonta remains steadfast in promoting initiatives that protect emergency care access, asserting that everyone deserves timely and appropriate medical treatment in emergencies. His efforts align with ongoing legal and advocacy battles to preserve the rights established by EMTALA in the face of evolving healthcare challenges.