Heterogeneity in the Effects of Reward- and Deposit-based Financial Incentives on Smoking Cessation

Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2016 Oct 15;194(8):981-988. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201601-0108OC.

Abstract

Rationale: Targeting different smoking cessation programs to smokers most likely to quit when using them could reduce the burden of lung disease.

Objectives: To identify smokers most likely to quit using pure reward-based financial incentives or incentive programs requiring refundable deposits to become eligible for rewards.

Methods: We conducted prespecified secondary analyses of a randomized trial in which 2,538 smokers were assigned to an $800 reward contingent on sustained abstinence from smoking, a refundable $150 deposit plus a $650 reward, or usual care.

Measurements and main results: Using logistic regression, we identified characteristics of smokers that were most strongly associated with accepting their assigned intervention and ceasing smoking for 6 months. We assessed modification of the acceptance, efficacy, and effectiveness of reward and deposit programs by 11 prospectively selected demographic, smoking-related, and psychological factors. Predictors of sustained smoking abstinence differed among participants assigned to reward- versus deposit-based incentives. However, greater readiness to quit and less steep discounting of future rewards were consistently among the most important predictors. Deposit-based programs were uniquely effective relative to usual care among men, higher-income participants, and participants who more commonly failed to pay their bills (all interaction P values < 0.10). Relative to rewards, deposits were more effective among black persons (P = 0.022) and those who more commonly failed to pay their bills (P = 0.082). Relative to rewards, deposits were more commonly accepted by higher-income participants, men, white persons, and those who less commonly failed to pay their bills (all P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Heterogeneity among smokers in their acceptance and response to different forms of incentives suggests potential benefits of targeting behavior-change interventions based on patient characteristics. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT 01526265).

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01526265.

Keywords: behavior change; financial incentives; heterogeneity of treatment effect; smoking cessation.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Educational Status
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Income
  • Male
  • Marital Status
  • Middle Aged
  • Motivation*
  • Program Evaluation
  • Reward
  • Smoking / psychology
  • Smoking Cessation / methods*
  • Smoking Cessation / psychology
  • Smoking Prevention

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01526265