Description

This category involved more active doctor participation than advice alone.

This category investigated how medically sponsored programs with doctors as authorities on health matters compare to other programs.

This method was similar to the eduational method:

• Group Withdrawal
• 5-Day Plans and
• Educational

3,486 smokers included from 16 separate studies.

Results

Doctor Intervention had the 11th highest quit rate of any category.

The three educational methods all ranked higher than Doctor Intervention. Go figure.

These results are surprising when you think that doctors are authority figures on health matters. Or are they?

Formal Doctor Intervention programs are not that widely available, perhaps because of the poor results.

Bottom line

Doctor intervention programs are a weak offering in terms of effectiveness.

The research says, if you want to quit in an educational setting your time and effort are better used elsewhere.

Perhaps the content of the program and not the source of information is important in determining success.

Alternatively, these results may reflect the fact that typically doctors do far less extensive counseling than other health care professionals. Perhaps these results show inexperience at counseling.

More information on what works, what doesn't, and why

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