Does Medication Sampling Improve Compliance with Brief Advice? Results from a Pragmatic Randomized Clinical Trial

INTRODUCTION: The 5As model is a standard component of most guidelines for tobacco treatment. Unfortunately, provider adherence to this model is modest. AIMS: Providing physicians with adjunctive tools to adhere to 5As guidelines may serve as a catalyst for brief advice delivery. METHODS: This was a secondary data analysis of a cluster randomized clinical trial assessing the uptake and impact of free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) sampling versus standard care in primary care. Patients reported receipt of separate elements of the 5As model, assessed one month following a baseline visit. Analyses compared patients who recalled receipt of brief advice among those who received NRT vs. standard care. Additional analyses examined demographic predictors of receiving brief advice. Results/Findings. Medication sampling did not improve compliance with ask, advise, or assess. Receipt of “assistance” was significantly higher among NRT recipients (70%) (p ≤ 0.0001). The NRT sampling group was more likely to have received all components (p = 0.004). As age increased, being asked (p = 0.006), advised (p = 0.05), and assessed (p = 0.003) decreased. Non-Whites reported higher rates of assessment (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Provision of NRT sampling increased provider compliance with some elements of the brief advice model, thus enhancing the impact of cessation advice within primary care. Trial Registration. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02096029.