PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CIGNA Corporation's
workplace smoking cessation program helped 67 percent of its participants quit
smoking after 12 months, a quit rate up to three times higher than comparable
smoking cessation programs. According to the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, smoking cessation programs similar to CIGNA's, which combine
behavioral counseling and pharmacologic treatment, produce average quit rates
of just 20 to 25 percent after one year.
"CIGNA's smoking cessation program is so successful because it is designed
to address each participant's unique obstacles to quitting," said Catherine L.
Hawkes, assistant vice president of employee health and work/life programs at
CIGNA. "Our program targets people based on their readiness to change. Those
who complete our behavioral assessment and are deemed truly ready to quit are
the most successful, while we work with others to help them reach the point
where they are truly ready. Our program uses a very disciplined and planned
quitting approach, with a lot of choice and personalization based on how each
person wants to participate. The program also offers one-on-one coaching for
participants, something that is not commonly available through similar
programs."
CIGNA's smoking cessation program is offered free to all CIGNA employees
and their benefits-eligible family members who want to quit smoking. Since
its launch in June of 2002, more than 550 people have enrolled. In addition
to the outstanding one-year quit rate, 43 percent of participants reported
quitting smoking at six months, and all participants reported at least
decreasing their smoking. Using a model designed by the program's vendor,
Staywell, CIGNA estimates saving $949 in health care costs for each successful
participant, a return on investment of 9.5:1.
All participants are extensively surveyed before enrolling in the program
to determine their smoking habits and barriers for quitting. Some of the
techniques used to help participants create individual plans to quit smoking
include exploring and affirming reasons for quitting, anticipating and dealing
with withdrawal symptoms, alternatives to smoking, preventing weight gain and
planning for high-risk situations. Participants also are encouraged to use
nicotine replacement therapies or other pharmacological aids to help resist
cravings.
The program is administered with flexibility as well. Participants have
the option of using the program online at their own pace, working with a
trained health educator over the phone, or using customized materials for
quitting that they receive through the mail.
CIGNA Corporation (NYSE: CI) is headquartered in Philadelphia, and its
subsidiaries constitute one of the largest publicly owned employee benefits
organizations in the United States. Its subsidiaries are major providers of
employee benefits offered through the workplace, including health care
products and services; group life, accident and disability insurance;
retirement products and services; and investment management. As of September
30, 2003, CIGNA Corporation had consolidated assets of $90.2 billion and
shareholders' equity of $4.2 billion. Full-year 2002 revenues totaled $19.3
billion. Web site: http://www.cigna.com.
SOURCE CIGNA Corporation
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http://www.cigna.com
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Contact: Chris Collom, CIGNA Corporation, +1-215-761-8421,
christopher.collom@cigna.com
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