Background: Using “quit” rates as a marker of intervention success, can undermine programmes that work with people less resourced for change. A simple tool, the Smokechange Test, was developed as a more sensitive measure of both readiness and change. This study compared initial readiness, as assessed by the tool, and smokefree status after six months for participants of the Smokechange programme.

Method: Eight determinants of readiness were assessed at enrolment and after six months participation. Questions were asked about daily smoking, nicotine dependence, smokefree importance, temptation to smoke, cessation confidence, previous cessation experience, knowledge of smoking effects, perceived stress. Responses were assigned points from 0 to 2 and a “Readiness Score” out of 16 was calculated. Smokefree was defined as “for > 7 days”.

Results: People with high initial readiness scores (>12/16) were significantly more likely to be smokefree at six months than those with low scores (×2=24.3, p<0.001, df=1). For 1125 participants smoking at enrolment, 71 of 134 (53%) with high initial scores were smokefree at six months compared to 312 of 991 (32%) with low. The profile of participants at enrolment was: Maori 31%, Pacific 15%, low income 57%, teenaged 11%, female 91%, pregnant 68%.

Conclusions: The Smokechange Test allowed readiness to be measured, progress tracked and impact on smokefree outcomes assessed. Also, the more sensitive measurement of readiness made way for more precision in applying the intervention.

Implications: This tool, simple and quick to use, could be a most useful adjunct to any smoking cessation service.