Abstract

GAVAZZONI, Juliana Accioly  and  MARINHO-CASANOVA, Maria Luiza. Evaluation of the effect of a behavioral intervention program on cigarette smoking behavior. Temas psicol. [online]. 2008, vol.16, n.1, pp. 83-95. ISSN 1413-389X.

The goal of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a behavioral intervention program for cigarette smoking cessation. It was used a multiple-baseline design across six individuals, which showed a level of carbon monoxide (CO) of at least 11 ppm during the initial interview. They were evaluated according to the level of nicotine dependence, depression symptoms and consumer satisfaction. The abstinence was evaluated through the CO measurement, performed in all phases of the research. The program lasted six sessions, was conducted weekly, in individual sessions, with the following strategies: information about tobacco; self-monitoring; stimulus control, gradual reduction of tobacco use; strategies to relieve the symptoms of abstinence syndrome; prevention of a relapse and physiological feedback. At the end of the treatment and in the one month follow-up, four participants were abstinent, and in the three months follow-up, three of them showed values of CO compatible to abstinence. It was observed a relation among: low or very low levels of nicotine dependence, slight symptoms or no depression and abstinence at the end of the intervention.

Keywords : Smoking; Health Psychology; Treatment; Behavioral Intervention.