Research

Walking may aid in smoking cessation
A recent study looked into walking as a smoking cessation aid. The research group found that taking a 15 minute walk when struck by an urge to smoke increased the time before a smoker’s next cigarette to an average of 83.7 minutes. The control group, who didn’t walk at the onset of desire to smoke, waited an average of 26.6 minutes until their next cigarette. Click here to read the abstract for this article, and click here for further information.

Research to begin on permanent cessation for pregnant women
The National Cancer Institute will sponsor research efforts by the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and the Research Institute in Florida to test interventions for new mothers to stay off tobacco after pregnancy. The endeavor is in response to the high number of women who quit smoking while pregnant only to return to smoking once the child is born. Click here for more information.

Resources

CMS to cover new levels of counseling for smoking cessation
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will cover two new levels of counseling for smoking cessation, intermediate and intensive. This does not modify existing coverage for minimal cessation counseling (3 minutes or less in duration), which is already considered to be covered as part of each Evaluation and Management (E/M) visit and is not separately billable. Click here to access the manual with full coverage details.

Cessation programs make sense for businesses
America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) and the Center for Health Research Kaiser Permanente Northwest (CHR) partnered to research the return on investment from evidence-based smoking cessation programs, focusing on the cost of interventions versus the savings in reduction of medical expenses and productivity costs. Findings showed that cessation investments save money in the short term (over two years). Calculations and estimations were made by a ROI calculator developed by the AHIP and CHR. A web-based user-friendly version has been developed for use by businesses and health care organizations. Click here for more details of the research and development of the ROI calculator.

DHHS distributes pocket tool to guide nurses to support cessation
The Department of Health and Human Services released an evidence-based tool to support nurses in helping their patients quit smoking. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) worked with Tobacco Free Nurses to create the pocket guide Helping Smokers Quit: A Guide for Nurses.

New Mexico: New Mexico quitline goes into effect
New Mexico is the 11th State to contract with Free and Clear, Inc to provide a tobacco quitline to residents. As of May 18, 2005, smokers can call the toll free line to receive an individualized plan for cessation, a tool kit to support their plan, and the opportunity to schedule phone-based treatment sessions. Services are made available between scheduled sessions as well. Click here to access details on the quitline.

New Jersey: Individualized quit program instated at NJ medical center
Palisades Medical Center opened their state of the art “I Quit Smoking Program” April 22, 2005. The program includes an assessment of the individual’s smoking and their addiction. The assessment leads to an individualized program which may include nicotine replacement therapy, intensive patient support, and other medical testing. Their own studies have show that the success rate of the “aggressive” cessation program can be as high as 50%. Click here for more details on the programs. Visit this website for information on PMC's program and other similar programs nationwide.

New York: New York City provides free smoking cessation kits
In efforts to support New Yorkers’ efforts to quit smoking, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) offered free smoking cessation kits to eligible callers. After 2 weeks, the Department had almost 25,000 requests. Each kit contains a six-week supply of nicotine patches with instructions for their use, DOHMH literature about quitting smoking, and a Pfizer brochure detailing how to receive personalized, online support for a quitter’s efforts. Kits have about a $150 value, but were provided free of charge by Pfizer. Click here for more information on the kits and smoking cessation in NYC.

Oklahoma and Rhode Island experience large increases in calls to State quitlines
 
Oklahoma: In the 7 months since Oklahoma’s tobacco tax increase passed, nearly 10,000 people have accessed the State’s quitline for help in kicking the habit. The 800% increase is credited to both the passing of the tax and increased visibility. Click here for information on the quitline and it's use.

Rhode Island: Two months after Rhode Island passed a smoking legislation prohibiting smoking from work places, restaurants and bars, the State has noted an increase in smoking cessation services. Calls to the State’s quitline increased from 200 per month to 1500. The increase in demand exceeded the capacity of the services, but donations from their community partners allowed the State to continue services to the 500 consumers in treatment and 400 more on the waiting list. Click here for more information.

Wisconsin: Wisconsin quitline saves millions in health care costs
Over the four years of its existence, the Wisconsin quitline is estimated to have saved the State $26 million in health care costs. This is based on the nearly 7,000 callers who have quit and the calculated $1,600/year saved for each individual who quits. With the help of the quitline and other tobacco control measures, the smoking rate in Wisconsin has dropped 8%. Click here for more details on the quitline.

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