Smoking Cessation in Europe: Trends in methods used in the European Union between 2012 and 2014

Abstract

Background: Smoking cessation entails substantial health benefits both for individual smokers and public health. Aim and Objectives: This study provides information on the trends and patterns of use of smoking cessation methods among smokers in the European Union (EU) as well as on factors associated with use of cessation methods. Methods: Data on smokers from the 2012 (n=9,921) and 2014 (n=9,959) waves of the Special Eurobarometer for Tobacco survey were used. Self-reported use of smoking cessation methods was examined among smokers who had ever tried to quit and former smokers. Changes in use of each method and socio-demographic variation in these were assessed using logistic regression. Results: Quitting without assistance in the EU decreased between 2012-2014 (70.3% to 65.3%) as also the use of nicotine replacement therapy (14.6% to 12.2%) and healthcare professionals and smoking cessation clinics (6.7% to 5.0%). Experimentation with ecigarettes for the purpose of quitting increased (3.7% to 11.0%). Younger people and those with difficulty paying bills were more likely to have reported experimentation with e-cigarettes (aOR:4.12; 95%CI:3.23-5.27) and less likely to have consulted a health care professional (aOR:0.39; 95%CI:0.27-0.56). Significant differences between EU member states were also noted. Conclusions: The above findings highlight the need for a homogenised approach to smoking cessation across the EU with the support of evidence based smoking cessation methods. Funding: This work was partially supported by a grant from the European Commission (Horizon2020 HCO-6-2015; EUREST-PLUS: 681109; Vardavas).