A study of whether the Medicare program should assist seniors in quitting smoking has found that a combination of the nicotine patch and support through a telephone hotline yielded the greatest benefit for seniors trying to quit, WPTV (West Palm Beach, Fla.) reported Aug. 19.

Geoffrey Joyce, senior economist with RAND and lead author of the study, said the research does not demonstrate that a major effort under Medicare to help elderly smokers quit would save a great deal of money. But experts say the research does show that older smokers are motivated to quit and that a number of smoking cessation tools can improve their chances.

The study looked at 7,354 seniors who participated in smoking cessation programs in seven states from 2002-2003. Nineteen percent of a group that received a free nicotine patch in addition to access to a smoking cessation hotline were able to quit and remain off nicotine for a year.

Other quit rates seen in the analysis were 10 percent for a group that received only a brochure about quitting, 14 percent for a group that received four brief counseling sessions with their physician, and 16 percent for those receiving counseling and either a nicotine patch or the medication bupropion.

Other research has shown why it is important to work with elderly individuals who want to stop smoking. A 1986 study found that a person who smokes at least 20 cigarettes a day and quits at age 65 can expect to live two to three years longer.

Study results were published online in the journal Health Services Research.