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Abstract
AimsAt a time of declining smoking prevalence in England, it is useful to document any changes in the characteristics of smokers. This has implications for targeting tobacco control policies and interventions. This study compared the characteristics of smokers from 2008 to 2017 to assess changes in smoking and quitting patterns and socio‐demographic profile.Design and settingAnalysis of annual trends in results from repeated cross‐sectional surveys of representative samples of the population in England from 2008 to 2017.ParticipantsThe study included 208 813 adults aged 16+.MeasurementsInformation was gathered on age, sex, social grade and region, cigarette consumption, cigarette dependence as measured by time to first cigarette of the day, daily smoking, smoking roll‐your‐own cigarettes, attempts to cut down, use of an e‐cigarette or nicotine replacement therapy, attempts to cut down or quit, use of support in quit attempts and whether the quit attempt was abrupt.FindingsDuring the period, mean daily cigarette consumption [B = –0.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) = –0.33 to −0.27] and the time to first cigarette score decreased (B = –0.03, 95% CI = –0.03 to −0.02). The proportion of smokers attempting to cut down or quit decreased (odds ratio (OR) range = 0.96–0.97, 95% CI range = 0.95–0.97). Use of behavioural support [odds ratio (OR) = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.86–0.92] or no support decreased (OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.96–0.99), while use of pharmacological support, including e‐cigarettes, increased (OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.02–1.05). There was no significant change in the difference in social grade between smokers and non‐smokers comparing 2008 with 2017. Changes in smoking and quitting behaviour were independent of changes in socio‐demographic characteristics.ConclusionsBetween 2008 and 2017 in England, smokers appear to have become less dependent on cigarettes but less likely to try to quit or cut down. Of those who tried to quit, fewer used behavioural support and more used pharmacological support. The proportion from more disadvantaged backgrounds did not change significantly.
Highlights
During the last 10 years, the prevalence of cigarette smoking in England has decreased from 21.1% in 2008 to 14.9% in 2017
19.9% were current smokers [95% confidence interval (CI) = 19.8–20.1%], and an unweighted total of 41 610 respondents were included in the analyses assessing whether smoking and quitting behaviour of adult smokers has changed from 2008 to 2017
An unweighted total of 38 868 adults aged 16+ were included in the analysis assessing whether changes in socio-demographic characteristics of adult smokers were different from changes in the non-smoker population; of these, 7348 were current smokers and 31 520 were non-smokers
Summary
During the last 10 years, the prevalence of cigarette smoking in England has decreased from 21.1% in 2008 to 14.9% in 2017 (as reported by the Office for National Statistics [1]). There is little analysis of representative data to describe whether important characteristics of smoking and quitting behaviour have changed over this time. This study compared nationally representative annual estimates from 2008 to 2017 of detailed smoker characteristics to provide a fuller account of how the smoking and quitting behaviour of the remaining smoking population has changed during the last 10 years. This can be used to produce appropriately targeted policies and interventions to reduce smoking prevalence further. There have been a number of considerable changes in tobacco control policy in England since 2007, meaning that smokers’ characteristics are likely to have changed in response.
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