Phone therapy trial tests new way to help HIV patients kick smoking habit

This study tested two different phone counseling approaches to help smokers with HIV quit. Researchers compared standard smoking cessation advice with a newer method that focuses on understanding feelings that lead to smoking and finding alternative activities. The study involved 651 adults in Botswana who smoke daily and have well-controlled HIV. Participants received five phone counseling sessions over nine weeks, with researchers checking if they had quit smoking at 10 weeks and 26 weeks.