Intervention(s)
The Green Bank of Caraga identified regular smokers off the street and asked them if they wanted to participate in a short survey on smoking. All subjects received an informational pamphlet on the dangers of smoking, and a tip sheet on how to quit. After completing this baseline survey, subjects were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: the Committed Action to Reduce and End Smoking (CARES) product, cue cards, or neither (control).
CARES intervention: A minimum balance of 50 pesos (about US$1) was required to open a CARES account, where sample smokers were encouraged to deposit the money they would normally spend on cigarettes each week. Clients could deposit but not withdraw from these accounts, and the accounts yielded no interest, to discourage non-smokers people from using them as a substitute for normal savings accounts. A portion of the group also received weekly visits from deposit collectors, saving them the weekly trip to the bank while another portion didn’t.
Cue cards: These individuals got to choose from among four wallet-sized cards depicting negative health consequences of smoking: premature babies, bad teeth, black lung, or a child hooked up to a respirator. They were encouraged by the marketers to keep them in a prominent location.
Control: This group received no additional information.
Six months after the baseline survey, all survey respondents took a urine test to determine if they were still smoking. Individuals in the CARES treatment groups would receive their entire balance back if they passed the test, but would forfeit it if they failed or refused to take the test. Non-clients (those assigned to the cues and comparison groups) were paid 30 pesos (US$0.60) for taking the six-month test, and all respondents were paid 30 pesos for taking another test 12 months after the baseline.