Smoking Cessation Study Yields Success

The November issue of Psychiatric Services (the official journal of the American Psychiatric Association) featured an article detailing outcomes from a clinical study which Bay Cove (and fellow human services agency Vinfen) participated in, in conjunction with Massachusetts General Hospital’s Center for Addiction Medicine. The study—on smoking cessation strategies for individuals with serious mental illness—was funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI).

Research has shown that people with serious mental illness are three times more likely to smoke tobacco than those without mental illness, and have a 25-year mortality disparity as a result. In the study, Bay Cove community health workers—acting as community-based supports for people with serious mental illness and their physicians—were able to double tobacco abstinence in participating clients by tripling the use of the smoking cessation medication varenicline. Our staff also had an effect on abstinence independent of medication, by addressing adverse social determinants of health with clients.

Chief Operating Officer Carley Lubarsky—who directly oversaw Mental Health Services during the time the study was conducted—remarked, “SO much work went into this study, and to see the results published is fantastic. The community health workers were an amazing group of young grads who were enthusiastic, motivated young professionals—and their ability to engage and be creative was a huge part of the study’s success.”