Offer a Valentine's Gift from the Heart: Help a Loved One Quit Smoking

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Flowers, chocolates and romantic notes are all classic ways to celebrate Valentine's Day. This year, however, a Mayo Clinic researcher hopes that some Minnesota residents will receive a nontraditional Valentine's gift — support in their efforts to quit smoking.

Mayo Clinic psychologist Christi Patten, Ph.D., is leading a study that trains participants to offer support, encouragement and assistance to a loved one who is trying to quit smoking. Research has shown that smokers who receive support from family members and friends are more likely to quit than those who do not have support.

Many family members and friends want to help a loved one quit, but they are not sure what to do or say," says Dr. Patten. "In this study, we help people learn new ways to be supportive. When a support person enrolls in this study, the smoker can obtain free nicotine replacement therapy and assistance with quitting."

Dr. Patten suggests that eligible individuals enroll in the study as a Valentine's Day present to their loved one. "It is a way to show your loved one that you care about his or her health. Many smokers have a positive reaction to family members and friends who join a study like this because they can see how much these people care about them," says Dr. Patten. "The smoker will receive education about quitting and, unlike flowers or chocolate, this is the gift that can keep on giving throughout the smoker's lifetime."

Nonsmokers age 18 and older who want to learn how to support a smoker are eligible to enroll in this study. The smoker does not need to be interested in or even thinking about quitting. Both the support person and the smoker must be Minnesota residents. For further information about this research study, call 1-800-957-2950 or e-mail mayosupport@mayo.edu.

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