Participants from both trials who met the screening criteria during a telephone interview were provided with an overview of the program and invited to the project offices to complete a pre-treatment baseline assessment and screening physical examination. Upon completion of the baseline assessment, participants were assigned randomly to experimental conditions. Interventions for both trials to 12 weeks consisted of 12 weeks of bupropion, 10 weeks of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and five group counseling sessions. Participants initiated the use of 300 mg per day of buproprion during week 1. Trial 1 participants received a 10-week supply of the transdermal nicotine patch, whereas participants in trial 2 received a 10-week supply of the nicotine gum. In both trials participants initiated the use of NRT on their quit date, which occurred during week 2. Intervention components of the group counseling sessions included psychoeducational didactics, and the development of personalized quit plans centered on cognitive and behavior coping skills.
