University of Arizona professor seeks recruits for study to help smokers quit

PHOENIX — The University of Arizona’s College of Nursing is conducting the first study in the nation aimed at helping smokers quit by using guided imagery coaching sessions over the phone.

Guided imagery is a technique that has been used by athletes for decades, according to a university news release. People who use guided imagery work with a coach to imagine themselves achieving their goals, or imagine their motivation for succeeding.

Dr. Judith Gordon, a professor and interim associate dean at the university, told KTAR News 92.3 FM that guided imagery is “mentally rehearsing what they’re actually going to do in real life.”

Gordon found in one study that using guided imagery was effective in helping a group of female smokers quit. Now she wants to further this research by reaching underserved populations.

“We know that tobacco quitlines, which are available throughout the country, are very successful in helping smokers to quit, but they don’t reach the vast majority of smokers,” Gordon said. “They tend not to appeal to men and smokers of color.”

Gordon said she hopes the alternative approach will allow smokers of color and men to feel more comfortable engaging with coaches, especially with guided imagery’s history of use in sports.

Gordon and her team are now reaching out to a new group of smokers, particularly men and diverse racial groups, with the Be Smoke Free program.

Funded by a $700,000 grant from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, this program offers participants weekly telephone coaching sessions, a supply of nicotine patches or lozenges and internet tools at no cost. Participants will receive $50 at the end of the study.

Participants will randomly be assigned to guided imagery coaching or standard intervention coaching.

In the first three months of the trial, the team has enrolled more than 50 participants. The current goal is to recruit 100 active participants.

Gordon said in the news release she hopes the results from this study will lead to a larger, national study to test the effectiveness of the guided imagery phone program.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Nailea Leon contributed to this report.

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