Comparative Effectiveness of Two Tobacco Cessation Interventions for Employees of Partners HealthCare, Inc.

The internal coaching program uses a chronic disease management strategy to treat tobacco use and dependence. The program provides evidence-based treatment consisting of up to 12 months of services from a tobacco coach based at Partners HealthCare. The tobacco coach offers (1) repeated smoking cessation counseling delivered by proactive telephone calls, emails, and interactive voice response [automated phone calls] and (2) facilitated access to a new Partners HealthCare Inc., health insurance benefit that provides access to all FDA-approved smoking cessation medications without copay or prior approval.

The external coaching program consists of referral to the Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program's Smokers Helpline, a free program offering multi-session proactive telephone counseling for 3 months to individuals who are ready to quit smoking. Individuals in this arm also receive information about Partners HealthCare, Inc.'s new health insurance benefit that provides access to all FDA-approved smoking cessation medications without copay or prior approval.