Health Communications and Risk Processing Among Smokers

If patient agrees to participate, they will receive free treatment to help them quit smoking, including written self-help materials, counseling, and a supply of the nicotine patch for 4 weeks. Participant will visit M. D. Anderson 5 times during this study; once for an orientation/intake visit, and then for 4 more study visits.

At the first (orientation) visit, participant will be asked about their feelings and moods, as well as their smoking status. Participant will fill out questionnaires on a computer and complete a breath test. The questionnaires will be about mood, stress, and smoking-related issues, and should take about 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete. To complete the breath test, participant will blow into a tube that's attached to a machine about the size of a pocket computer. The breath test is used to estimate the amount of tobacco smoke that participant inhales. Participant will also complete two computer-based tasks. Women who are pregnant should not take part in this study.

In addition, participant will receive a palmtop personal computer and be trained in how to use it. Participant will carry this small computer with them from the time of their first visit until their last study visit. Participant will use the computer to answer questions about their mood, stress, and smoking-related issues. Participant will be asked to fill out some questions on the computer each time they have an urge to smoke or they actually smoke. Also, the computer will "beep" at random and set times and request that participant answers some questions.

Participant will return for 4 visits after the orientation session. During these visits, participant will receive brief individual counseling where they will discuss techniques to help them quit smoking. Participant will also be asked to fill out questionnaires on a computer about their moods and feelings, as well as their smoking status. The questionnaires should take about 30 minutes to complete. The breath test will be given at every clinic visit.

Participant may be contacted by mail, telephone, and/or e-mail throughout the study and follow-up period, to provide reminders of clinic visits. Participant may also be asked for information about their smoking status during the usual reminder calls and/or calls to reschedule missed appointments.