Health

Smokers Have Better Luck Quitting When Own Money Wagered

Published

10 years ago

May 14, 2015

In this Tuesday, June 3, 2008 file photo, an employee smokes a cigarette at a bar and restaurant in Harrisburg, Pa. In a study released Wednesday, May 13, 2015, smokers with $150 of their own money at stake were far more likely to quit than smokers who didnt have to wager their money to get cash rewards. "A bit of a stick was much better than pure carrot," said the study's lead author, Dr. Scott Halpern of the University of Pennsylvania. But heres the catch: Few people were willing to bet on themselves. Nearly everyone who was offered the rewards-only option, though, signed up for a stop smoking program. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

In a study released Wednesday, May 13, 2015, smokers with $150 of their own money at stake were far more likely to quit than smokers who didnt have to wager their money to get cash rewards. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Mike Stobbe, ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK (AP) — When it comes to offering cash to get smokers to quit, more people go for the carrots than the stick — but the stick gets better results.

In a study released Wednesday, smokers with $150 of their own money at stake were far more likely to quit than smokers who didn’t have to wager their money to get the cash rewards.

“A bit of a stick was much better than pure carrot,” said the study’s lead author, Dr. Scott Halpern of the University of Pennsylvania.

But here’s the catch: Few people were willing to bet on themselves. Nearly everyone who was offered the rewards-only option, though, signed up for a stop smoking program.

As employers try to hold down health care costs, growing numbers of them have been using financial incentives to encourage workers to quit smoking or get healthier in other ways. But there’s been relatively little research on what works best, said senior author Dr. Kevin Volpp.

The Penn researchers collaborated with CVS Health, the second largest U.S. drugstore operator, for the study. About 2,500 smokers took part — CVS employees, their relatives or friends.
THE INCENTIVES

Past research has found money is persuasive. Volpp and his colleagues tried to see what difference it made if employees stood not only to win money for quitting, but also to lose money.

About 1,000 smokers were offered the chance to win up to $800 if they could quit for six months. Participation was high — about 90 percent signed up.

Another 1,000 were asked to put $150 down as a deposit. It they quit for six months, they would get their $150 back plus $650 — a total of $800. Only 14 percent took that offer.

Another group of about 500 were offered no cash incentive, but did get the company’s standard offering of counseling and nicotine replacement therapy.
THE OUTCOME

The few that put in their own money were a committed bunch. About half of them made it six months without a cigarette. That was a much better than the 17 percent of the rewards-only group that made it to the finish line.

But there were so many people in the rewards-only program that the actual number who quit in that group was much higher — 156, compared to 78.

Only 28 of the people offered no cash incentives quit — a measly 6 percent.

To get the largest number of people to stop, “it looks like the better bet might be for employers to supply pure reward,” said Cliff Douglas, the American Cancer Society’s vice president for tobacco control. He was not involved in the research.

The study was published in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine.
TOO-HIGH STAKES

The study’s authors say there’s a compelling story in the success rate for the smokers who had money on the line. But they also say the $150 deposit apparently scared many away.

One participant, Camelia Escarcego of Rialto, California, said she is unemployed and wouldn’t have been able to come up with the deposit. Her sister works for CVS and Escarcego ended up in the rewards-only group.

A 12-year smoker, Escarcego, 55, said the hundreds of dollars was enough motivation.

“That helped me to have a little bit of money in my pocket,” she said.

Next month, CVS is to launch a quit smoking program for its 200,000 employees that will require a lower deposit of $50 and will award $700 to those who quit for a year.

___

Online:

Journal: http://www.nejm.org.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

###

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Gov. Newsom Goes to Washington to Advocate for California Priorities

Gov. Gavin Newsom traveled to Washington, D.C., for meetings with senior Biden-Harris Administration officials and members of California’s congressional delegation. During the week, he pushed for increased resources to improve public safety and quality of life in California.

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Gov. Newsom visits the White House on Nov. 14. Photo courtesy of Gov.Ca. Gov

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Gov. Gavin Newsom traveled to Washington, D.C., for meetings with senior Biden-Harris Administration officials and members of California’s congressional delegation.

During the week, he pushed for increased resources to improve public safety and quality of life in California.

“California is continuing our work to secure additional tools and resources to improve access to health care, clean air and water, and secure critical funding to support communities recovering from disasters,” said Newsom.

At the White House, Newsom met with President Joe Biden and key officials, advocating for disaster relief funding, healthcare expansion, and environmental protection. He also engaged in discussions with senior Biden-Harris officials, including Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, to address water quality improvements and the San Luis Dam project, which will support water supplies for two million Californians.

“Building on our strong partnership with the Biden-Harris Administration, California is working closely with the White House over the next two months to deliver the critical protections and resources our communities need,” Newsom said.

On Capitol Hill, Newsom met with California Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, along with other Congressional leaders, to emphasize the need to approve pending disaster funding, healthcare programs, and environmental protections. He also previewed California’s upcoming special session to proactively address potential federal challenges when President-elect Donald Trump is sworn into office.

Newsom’s discussions also focused on securing Medicaid waivers from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to enhance behavioral health services and reduce homelessness. The state seeks approval for the BH-CONNECT waiver, which would address behavioral health and homelessness, and the MCO Tax Waiver, which would provide over $20 billion for Medi-Cal to improve healthcare access.

Additionally, California is pushing for Clean Air Act waivers from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which are crucial for enforcing air quality regulations. These measures are projected to prevent 11,000 premature deaths and provide $116 billion in health benefits over the next three decades, according to the Governor’s office.

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California Reports First Case of Mpox in the United States

On Nov. 16, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), reported the first known case of clade 1 Mpox, previously known as Monkeypox, in the United States. However, the risk to the public remains low, according to the CDPH.

Published

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By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

On Nov. 16, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), reported the first known case of clade 1 Mpox, previously known as Monkeypox, in the United States.

However, the risk to the public remains low, according to the CDPH.

“This case was confirmed in an individual who recently traveled from Africa and is related to the ongoing outbreak of clade I mpox in Central and Eastern Africa,” reads a statement the CDPH released.

According to the DDPH, “The affected individual received health care in San Mateo County based on their travel history and symptoms. The individual is isolating at home and recovering.”

Public health workers are also conducting a contact tracing exercise and reaching out to people who have been in close proximity to the affected person.

“The mpox specimens from the traveler are being sent to the CDC for further laboratory testing,” the CDPH press release continues.

Californians can take a number of steps to prevent Mpox. Here’s more information:

Preventing Mpox Infection

It appears clade I mpox spreads in a similar manner as clade II mpox, through close (skin-skin), intimate and sexual contact. The identification of a potentially more severe mpox version in the United States is a good reminder for individuals who have certain risk factors to take preventive action, including:

Getting vaccinated if you may be at risk for mpox. For the greatest protection, make sure you get both doses of the vaccine. Find mpox vaccine (JYNNEOS) near you.
Taking precautions if you were exposed to mpox. Get the mpox vaccine before symptoms develop and consider avoiding intimate contact with others for 21 days. Watch yourself for symptoms and get tested if they develop.
Preventing spread if you have been told you have mpox. Avoid contact with others until the rash is healed, clean and disinfect shared areas in the home, and notify people who may have been exposed.
Talking to your sexual partner(s).
Avoiding skin-to-skin contact with those who have a rash or sores that look like mpox.
Not sharing items with someone who has mpox.
Washing your hands often.
Protecting yourself when caring for someone with mpox by using masks, gowns and gloves.

Visit the CDPH website to learn more about Mpox with Sexual Health Toolkits and a Campaign Materials Page.

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California Department of Aging Offers Free Resources for Family Caregivers in November

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By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

“Caregiving is a great act of love, and this month — and every day — we uplift California’s caregivers as the under-recognized backbone of our families and communities,” said Susan DeMarois, director of the CDA. DeMarois emphasized the need for caregivers to access available support to better balance their roles without compromising their own health.

California is home to more than 4.5 million unpaid family caregivers, who contribute an estimated $81 billion annually in economic value through their care. Most caregivers are women who balance work, family, and caregiving responsibilities, often at the cost of their physical and emotional health. Given California’s aging population, the demand for caregiver support is rapidly growing, underscoring the importance of these free resources.

Thousands of caregivers accessed these services in the 2022-2023 fiscal year, benefiting from tools like professional care management and respite support. The Aging in California Resource Guide, available in six languages, offers additional information on caregiver support.

Caregivers can learn more about available resources by visiting the CDA website at aging.ca.gov and connecting with local CRCs or AAAs to discover personalized services to support them in their caregiving journey.