Paying people to quit smoking: Potent but repugnant?

cigarettes-621344_960_720In this commentary we discuss the findings from a large randomised controlled trial of four financial incentive schemes for smoking cessation, published in 2015 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

We note the promising use of reward-based schemes (but not penalties) for promoting sustained quitting, particularly among the poorest thereby reducing health inequalities but argue that such schemes are unlikely to be used until efforts are made to increase their public acceptability.

Public health: The case for pay to quit. Marteau & Mantzari. 2015. 

Access full text.

 

Share