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Penn State University - “Who Wants to be a Survivor?”
Quit & Win Challenge
Public university located in University Park, Pennsylvania
Enrollment: 40,000 (34,829 undergraduate)
Type/Category: Cessation Program
Program: In February 2003, Penn State University’s
(Penn State) held a “Who Wants to be a Survivor?”
Quit & Win Challenge. A campus committee, spearheaded
by Health Services, met weekly for about four months in preparation
for the month-long program. This committee was made up of
students, health providers, addiction specialists and educators,
former smokers, and marketing and web designers.
The program’s goal was to motivate, encourage, and
support Penn State students who wanted to quit smoking or
reduce their tobacco use. The Challenge is modeled after the
international “Quit & Win” program (see Links
and Resources). To market the program and encourage participation,
the name capitalized on the popularity of the “Who Wants
to be a Millionaire” and “Survivor” television
programs. Students who wanted to quit or cut down signed up
for a month of support, activities, and cessation education.
Once the month-long program began, participants were provided
with the following:
- Online registration, which include completion of a smoker
history form and Prochaska and DiClemente’s “Readiness
to Change” assessment
- Pre and post-challenge carbon monoxide readings
- A kickoff social gathering
- Quit kits with information, gum, candy, gym and health
food coupons, motivational messages, and toll free quit
line information
- Quit coaches—Trained volunteers who offered motivational
support and advice in weekly scheduled meetings with participants
- The option to sign up a friend or family member to receive
training as a motivational quit coach
- Individual meetings with an addiction specialist or participation
in group cessation counseling
- A post-program party with prizes, funded by the Department
of Health Tobacco Settlement
Cost: The 2003 Quit & Win program was
funded through the Pennsylvania Department of Health Tobacco
Settlement. The budget totaled less than $6000 for brochures,
magnets, other promotions, planning meetings, quit coaches’
manuals and training, kick-off and closing parties, a carbon
monoxide monitor, and quit kit materials.
Results: In February 2003, 60 students enrolled
and 33 completed the month-long program. Retention of over
50% in a cessation program is considered very successful.
In previous Quit & Win initiatives, while over 100 students
enrolled, only 10% remained in the program for its duration.
Futures: The Quit & Win program is now
available year-round at Penn State. Banners advertise the
Quit & Win program. There is online registration available
as well as regular referrals from the University Health Center.
While the program is offered year-round, there are plans to
emphasize cessation services in the month of November, in
order to coincide with the Great American Smokeout.
Contact:
Diana Ramos
University Health Services
dxr128@sa.psu.edu
This case study brief was written in September 2003.
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