| Characteristics | Pre-initiative period (n = 320) | Free patch initiative (n = 639) | p Value |
| At registration | |||
| Mean age | 40.9 | 49.1 | <0.0001* |
| Female | 69.1% | 67.8% | NS |
| High school or less | 53.8% | 49.9% | NS |
| Hispanic | 4.4% | 3.8% | NS |
| Non-white | 17.8% | 10.2% | NS |
| Heavy smoker (⩾1 pack/day)† | 45.9% | 51.0% | NS |
| Mean motivation to quit (SD) | 8.0 (1.9) | 6.6 (3.8) | <0.0001* |
| At follow-up | |||
| 7-day abstinence | 19.0% | 33.6% | <0.05 |
| 30-day abstinence | 16.4% | 29.7% | <0.001 |
| Intent to treat abstinence | 8.2% | 15.7% | <0.001 |
| Purchased additional services | 30.5% | 49.8% | <0.0001 |
| If purchased, mean costs | $39.50 | $55.01 | <0.001* |
*t test. †Recorded at registration.