Natural History of Attempts to Stop Smoking

Smoking cessation can be enhanced either by increasing the success of quit attempts or by increasing in the number of quit attempts. The investigators are interested in what causes a smoker to make a quit attempt. The investigators will test whether certain events (e.g., a request from a child to quit smoking or exposure to a smoking-related health message) increase the probability of a quit attempt in the near future. The investigators are will test whether planning behaviors (e.g. seeking information about treatment) and setting a quit date are common and increase the probability of a quit attempt. Finally, the investigators want to see if spontaneous, unplanned quit attempts are common and are more or less successful than delayed, planned quit attempts. In a pilot study, the investigators will develop measures of the most common events and planning activities. In the main study, the investigators will recruit 200 adult daily smokers who are interested in quitting in the next 3 months. They will call a phone daily and use the phone's keypad to enter data plus they will complete mailed or internet questionnaires weekly for 3 months. The results of this study will a) help us understand what prompts smoking cessation attempts, b) help develop media messages and individual interventions to motivate smokers to make a quit attempt, and c) help determine whether spontaneous, impulsive quit attempts or delayed, planned quit attempts should be encouraged.