In this review of randomized controlled trials of interventions designed to enhance partner support for smokers in cessation programmes, we failed to detect an increase in quit rates. Limited data from several of the trials suggest that these interventions also did not increase partner support. No conclusions can be made about the impact of partner support on smoking cessation. Additional studies with larger samples are needed to adequately explore the effects of partner support interventions for smoking cessation.
Partner support, psychological treatment, and nicotine gum in smoking treatment: an incremental study.
Smokers (N = 99) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: nicotine gum (NG), nicotine gum plus psychological treatment (NG-PT), and nicotine gum plus psychological treatment and partner support (NG-PT-PS). Data were collected at Weeks 0, 4, 12, 26, and 52 from study start. Contrary to expectations, NG-PT-PS and NG-PT failed to increase abstinence rates. Subjects who were closer to their support partners had significantly lower abstinence rates with NG-PT-PS than with the other conditions, although not significantly at Weeks 26 and 52. Treatments without partner participation (NG-PT and NG) were significantly more effective for subjects who had an extremely close support partner outside the treatment setting than for those who did not at all weeks. The role of social support in smoking treatment is discussed.