Methods:

The Helping HAND (Hospital-initiated Assistance for Nicotine Dependence) trial was a randomized clinical trial, which compared sustained care (including a post-discharge tobacco cessation intervention) with usual care among hospitalized smokers who reported smoking daily and who wanted to quit smoking after discharge. Participants received a tobacco dependence intervention in the hospital. Of the 92% of eligible patients, 44% of screened patients enrolled. The study was conducted from August 2010 through November 2012, at Massachusetts General Hospital. The intervention arm received automated interactive voice response telephone calls and their choice of free smoking cessation medication (any type approved by the US Food and Drug Administration) for up to 90 days. The automated telephone calls promoted cessation, provided medication management, and triaged smokers for additional counseling. Standard care participants received recommendations for post-discharge pharmacotherapy and counseling. The primary outcome was biochemically confirmed past 7-day tobacco abstinence at 6-month follow-up after discharge from the hospital; secondary outcomes included self-reported tobacco abstinence.