Quit Smoking Services Research Articles

Impact of behavioural intervention to the predictors of quit success among smokers attending quit smoking services in Malaysia: 1- month, 3-months and 6-months follow-up

Impact of behavioural intervention to the predictors of quit success among smokers attending quit smoking services in Malaysia: 1- month, 3-months and 6-months follow-up

Strengthening quit smoking services in Malaysia through Malaysia Quit (mQuit) Program

1. Awareness of the Risk Factors for Heart Attack Among the General Public in Pahang, Malaysia: A Cross-Sectional Study Abdullah Ahmed, Abdulkareem AL-Shami, Shazia Jamshed, Mohammed Zawiah, Mohamed Elnaem, Ibrahim Mohamed Risk Management and Healthcare Policy CrossRef

Cancer Research-funded study suggests quit-smoking services should work with vape shops

Cancer Research-funded study suggests quit-smoking services should work with vape shops

Quit rates at 6 months in a pharmacist-led smoking cessation service in Malaysia.

Smoking cessation clinics have been established in Malaysia since 2004, but wide variations in success rates have been observed. This study aimed to evaluate the proposed pharmacist-led Integrated Quit Smoking Service (IQSS) in Sabah, Malaysia, and identify factors associated with successful smoking cessation. Data from 176 participants were collected from one of the quit-smoking centres in Sabah, Malaysia. Pharmacists, doctors and nurses were involved throughout the study. Any health care provider can refer patients for smoking cessation, and free pharmacotherapy and counselling was provided during the cessation period for up to 3 months. Information on demographic characteristics, smoking behaviours, follow-up and pharmacotherapy were collected. The main outcome measure was the abstinence from smoking, which was verified through carbon monoxide in expired air during the 6-month follow-up. A 42.6% success rate was achieved in IQSS. Smoking behaviour such as lower cigarette intake and lower Fagerström score were identified as factors associated with success. On top of that, a longer duration of follow-up and more frequent visits were significantly associated with success in quitting smoking. Collaboration among health care practitioners should be the main focus, and we need a combination of proven effective modalities in order to create an ideal smoking cessation module.

Choice of web- or phone-based quit smoking services should depend on the individual

Choice of web- or phone-based quit smoking services should depend on the individual

P286 Recommendations For Smoking Cessation Service Provision For Smokers With Copd With Multiple Complex Needs: Findings From A Pilot Study

Introduction Smokers with COPD are highly nicotine addicted and often have additional complex needs. Quit rates are poor and there is little evidence-based guidance on specific cessation interventions for these patients. This pilot study aimed to identify barriers to smoking cessation for this patient group. Method Smokers with COPD were offered up to 12 individual sessions with a clinical psychologist in addition to standard smoking cessation counselling and pharmacotherapy. The psychological intervention included an initial assessment and formulation on factors maintaining smoking which informed an individualised psychology intervention targeting barriers to smoking cessation. Results 57 patients (moderate COPD, high prevalence of complex physical andpsychological comorbidities) were included in the study (Table 1). 20/57 (35%) patients attended >2 sessions (mean=5, range 2–12). 7/20 had already quit (relapse prevention referrals), 13 were smokers. 22/57 (39%) patients never engaged, 15/57 (26%) were lost to follow-up. 6/7 (86%) of the relapse prevention group maintained their quit. 2/13 (15%) of the current smoker group maintained a 28 day quit and 4/13 (31%) reduced tobacco intake. Psychological barriers to quitting were identified including smoking as a means of emotion regulation. Conclusions For COPD smokers with a heavy smoking history and multiple quit attempts, and complex needs, additional psychological intervention alongside traditional quit smoking support may aid in preventing relapse, although further research is needed. For current smokers, the hypothesis was not supported, although the study did illuminate common themes regarding obstacles to quitting for this complex group who present a challenge to traditional quit smoking services. It is clear that the current ‘one size fits all’ approach to smoking cessation does not meet the needs of these smokers who require more focused specific interventions to support smoking cessation including: Pre-quit support ‘Cut down to quit’ approach Long-term, intensive follow up Assertive outreach Multi-agency working The above recommendations may provide a starting point for future service design.

P281 Smoking Prevalence And Stop Smoking Interventions For Patients Admitted To An Emergency Department (ed) In A Busy, Inner City Hospital

Introduction ED admissions are ‘teachable moments’ to offer cessation advice to smokers. In this study, smoking prevalence and stop smoking interventions were investigated in patients admitted to ED in a busy inner London hospital. The views of ED doctors on the value/appropriateness of offering smoking cessation advice in ED were canvassed with the aim of defining barriers to implementation of ‘right care’ for sick smokers. Methods Proforma questionnaires guided interviews of ED patients and doctors. Patient demographics, smoking history (pack years, quit attempts, motivation to quit, smoking cessation advice/referral in ED) were documented. Doctors were asked about their views on ascertaining smoking status, offering brief advice and referral to quit smoking services to smokers in ED. All patients and staff were given an information sheet explaining the purpose of the questionnaires. Results 101 patients were interviewed. 24/101(23%) were current smokers (3/24 12.5% also smoked cannabis), 39/101(39%) were ex-smokers and 38/101(37%) were lifelong non-smokers. Table 1 demonstrates that smokers were younger than ex- and never-smokers, never-smokers were predominantly female and 17/24 (71%) smokers had had multiple attempts to give up. In comparison, 36/39 (92%) ex-smokers gave up on their first attempt, with 33/39(85%) quitting without assistance. 13/24(54%) smokers expressed a desire to quit yet only 4(17%) were asked/given advice about smoking by a doctor. 14 doctors (6 FYs, 4 CMT/SPRs, 4 consultants, 8/14 had had Stop Smoking training) were questioned. 14/14 agreed that smoking cessation was important; 8/14(57%) felt that ED was not an appropriate place to offer advice. Conclusion 1/4 of patients attending A+E are smokers. Over 1/2 are motivated to quit but are not offered smoking-cessation advice during admission. Despite ED staff regarding Stop Smoking as valuable treatment, there is a perception that ED is an inappropriate setting to broach the issue of quitting. Smokers tended to be younger and had multiple unsuccessful attempts to quit compared to older ex-smokers who mainly quit on the first attempt. Offering support to quit during the first attempt is the most effective way to achieve permanent cessation. ED attendance should therefore be prioritised for targeted stop smoking interventions.

Use of smoking cessation and quit support services by socioeconomic status over 10 years of the national drug strategy household survey.

The aim of this research was to examine the use of quit smoking services and support options in Australia with national survey data to determine whether use of quit smoking services and pharmacotherapy contributes to socioeconomic status (SES) differences in smoking. Analyses were performed with data from 4 waves of the Australian National Drug Strategy Household Survey between 2001 and 2010. The primary outcomes were the use of quit smoking services or pharmacotherapy. The main predictor variables used were measures of SES including the Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas, income, and education. Other sociodemographic variables were also examined. There was no systematic SES difference in the use of services or support options, with some used more by high SES and some used more by low SES. Those with university education (odds ratio [OR] = 0.72; 95% CI = 0.56-0.93) were less likely to use prescription medication. Conversely, those with higher incomes were more likely to use patches, gum, or an inhaler (OR = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.01-1.27). Prescription medication was significantly associated with increased odds for recent cessation, although only among those with lower levels of education (OR = 2.50; 95% CI = 1.94-3.23). Those with higher SES had the greatest odds for recent cessation. The evidence suggests that low-SES smokers use quit services and support options equally compared with high-SES smokers; thus, access does not drive the SES differential in smoking. However, the findings are positive, suggesting that increasing the uptake of prescription medication may help increase cessation rates among low-SES smokers.

Individual versus corporate responsibility for smoking-related illness: Australian press coverage of the Rolah McCabe trial.

This paper provides a thematic frame analysis of Australian newspaper reporting of the outcome and implications of the trial of Rolah McCabe versus British American Tobacco Australasia (BATA). In this trial, a Melbourne woman was awarded A$700,000 damages for smoking-attributable lung cancer when the defendant, BATA, had its case dismissed due to document destruction. In 60 commentaries from Australian national or capital city newspapers between 12 April and 9 May 2002, a total of 79 instances of eight tobacco-related frames were identified. Overall, 43% of the 79 instances were positive for tobacco control, 46% were negative for tobacco control and 11% were neutral. The most common frame that was negative for tobacco control (in 35% of articles) was the conception that smokers exert 'free will' in deciding to smoke and should therefore be personally responsible for their smoking and any disease that arises as a result of it. A related, but less commonly employed frame (in 18% of articles) was the expressed fear of a 'slippery slope' of litigation, which portrayed smoking as similar to eating fast food or other 'vices'. The most common frame that was positive for tobacco control (in 35% of articles) was the notion that the tobacco industry was 'evil' and, to a lesser extent, that the government should 'do more' to control smoking (15% of articles). These findings provide a sobering public health challenge to improve public communication efforts about the powerful forces that conspire to induce people to start smoking and keep them smoking for decades, despite a strong desire to quit. There is a need to fund public education programs and quit smoking services more adequately to address the complex education task of understanding the nature of addiction to tobacco and the enormity of the health risk.

Uptake and effectiveness of the Australian telephone Quitline service in the context of a mass media campaign

Objectives: Since June 1997, Australia has run its first nationally coordinated mass media anti-smoking campaign, with all States collaborating to offer a standard Quitline service. An overview of the Australian...

Two‐month follow‐up on callers to a telephone quit smoking service

The results of a 2-month follow-up on a sample of individuals who rang a telephone quit smoking service to get advice on how to quit smoking are reported. Calls were in response to large-scale media campaigns carried out in Victoria each year from 1984 through 1986. The calls to the service came more from women than men and tended to come from better educated white collar workers. There were few differences in short-term quit rates as a function of basic demographic variables. There was some evidence that after 3 years of campaigning a greater proportion of telephone service users were making a major effort to quit and that younger smokers at whom the campaign was directed were more likely to quit.