Risk Perception Among Quitting Smokers

The goal of this behavioral research study is to put together and study a treatment for nicotine dependence that looks at how participant's thoughts and feelings about smoking may be related to how successfully they quit smoking.

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.

A supply of the nicotine patch will be provided to participant at each counseling session. The final supply of the patch is provided at the final counseling session.

This is an investigational study. The nicotine patch used in this study is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). About 20 people will take part in a pilot phase of this study; then, another 200 participants will take part in the main study. All will be enrolled at M. D. Anderson.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age 18 to 65 years.
2. Current smoker with a history of at least 5 cigarettes/day for the last year
3. Motivated to quit within the next week.
4. Home address and a functioning home telephone number.
5. Can speak, read, and write in English at a sixth-grade literacy level.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Contraindication for nicotine patch use.
2. Active substance abuse or dependence.
3. Regular use of tobacco products other than cigarettes (cigars, pipes, smokeless).
4. Use of bupropion or nicotine products other than the nicotine patches supplied by the study.
5. Pregnancy or lactation.
6. Another household member enrolled in the study.
7. Participation in a smoking cessation program or study during the past 90 days.