all participants received six one-on-one counseling sessions based upon the PHS Guideline.1 Study staff who provided counseling and conducted study sessions were bachelor-level trained case managers, supervised by a licensed clinical psychologist. Sessions lasted 10–20 minutes and occurred over 7 weeks with the first two counseling sessions occurring prior to quitting and the subsequent five occurring on the quit date or thereafter (see Figure 1). The last baseline visit, where randomization occurred and medication was dispensed, took place between 8 and 15 days pre-quit to ensure the bupropion up-titration schedule could be completed. Participants were instructed to start medications on the designated quit date, except for bupropion SR, which they were instructed to initiate 1 week prior to the quit date as per the package insert instructions. Participants had study visits on their quit day, and at 1-, 2-, 4- and 8-weeks post-quit. At study visits, vital signs, adverse events and smoking status were all recorded.
