| The present study evaluates the effectiveness of a smoking cessation program within the Howard Center for Human Services (HCHS) in Burlington, Vermont. This is accomplished by assessing whether or not clients are benefiting from the program. The clients' perceptions of their ability to quit smoking, their stages of change, and the quantity of cigarettes they smoke are evaluated. Their knowledge and implementation of the skills taught in the program are also assessed. There are a total of 24 participants. All participants are members of the smoking cessation program at HCHS. They have been found to meet HCHS criteria for severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder. The evaluator uses results from 2004-2005 Summary Check-In Sheets to determine the effectiveness of the program. Results are analyzed via descriptive statistics, repeated measures analysis of variance, and Pearson Product-Moment Correlations. Abstinence rates are further assessed by chromatograph readings. Findings indicate that HCHS's specialized smoking cessation program successfully helps people quit smoking. This program also increases clients' self-confidence, skill knowledge, and skill use pertaining to smoking cessation. |
