Research

Counseling by student-dentists helps patients quit smoking
The curriculum of dental students at the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine was recently modified to include non-judgmental tobacco counseling to encourage their patients to quit. Results of the program, presented at the International Association of Dental Research meeting, showed that 51 percent of the 89 patients who accepted and received tobacco counseling form the student-dentists agreed to quit immediately. Of that number, 29 patients, or 32 percent, were still smoke-free after six months. Click here to read more.

Calls to Canadian Quitline up twenty seven percent
The number of calls to the Victoria anti-smoking Quitline has increased by more than 27 percent this year. Executive director Todd Harper reported that more than 28,000 people phoned the Quiltline in the past year, compared with just under 22,000 callers in the previous year. One reason for the increase may be the recent legislation requiring graphic warnings on cigarette packs, including images of stroke, lung cancer, blindness, and heart disease. March 1st marked the first anniversary of the introduction of graphic warnings. Click here for the press release.

Drugs help smokers quit, even if not the first time
New research suggests that smokers who use medicine to try to quit smoking should keep trying, even if the drugs to not work the first time. Researchers found that 24 percent of those taking Chantix were able to quit right away, 18 percent of those taking Zyban, versus just 10 percent of those who were given a placebo. Interestingly, an additional 20 percent of those taking Chantix and 11 percent of those taking Zyban were able to quit if they kept trying for three months. The study was presented at a meeting of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco in Austin, Texas. Click here to read more.

Burn off cigarette craving with exercise
A review of 12 research studies indicates that moderate exercise for a little as five minutes can reduce nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms.  The studies explored the immediate effects of exercise as an intervention to reduce cravings, but did not look at long term effects on quitting. Click here to read more.

Successful participant recruitment strategies for an online smokeless tobacco cessation program
As part of a randomized clinical trial to assess the reach and effectiveness of Web based programs for delivering smokeless tobacco cessation interventions, researchers developed and evaluated several methods for overcoming recruitment challenges. Self report from treatment participants revealed that over half were recruited through mailings, 34.6% through Google ads or via search engines or links on another Web site, and 14.8% from all other methods combined. Click here to read the study abstract, published in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research.

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LGBT Tobacco Control Network releases book on cultural competent LGBT tobacco treatment
The National LGBT Tobacco Control Network, in conjunction with Howard Brown Health Center is happy to debut a new book, How to Run a Culturally Competent LGBT Smoking Treatment Book. This 20-page book distills lessons learned from over 20 LGBT treatment groups run across the country as part of an American Legacy Foundation research project. Information is given on how to set up staffing, do outreach, tailor a curriculum and find other resources. The last chapter of the book adds a bonus, a low-effort recipe to evaluate any tobacco treatment group complete with model evaluation forms.  Click here to visit the LGBT TCN website and order copies of the book.

The American Legacy Foundation and Mayo Clinic collaborate to reduce smoking rates
The American Legacy Foundation and the Mayo Clinic announced a new collaboration to reduce smoking rates. Legacy, with Mayo Clinic providing clinical expertise, has developed cessation materials for the pilot phase of EX-SM, an innovative new multi-channel program designed to help people stop smoking. The two organizations have created a quit manual and online resources that avoid anti-smoking overtones used in past campaigns and instead provide those who want to quit with resources to develop a quit plan. Click here for the American Legacy Foundation press release.

New online tobacco treatment training program announced
The American Society of Addiction Medicine and Clinical Tools has launched a new Internet-based training program to educate healthcare providers about tobacco prevention and cessation. The training program prepares physicians and other health professional to provide clinical tobacco interventions for prevention and cessation. Providers who complete the training will earn between 8 and 10.5 hours of continuing medical education credit. The program was developed with funding form the National Cancer Institute and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Click here for the training site. Click here for the press release.

American Academy of Family Physicians Announce ‘Ask and Act’ Website
The American Academy of Family Physicians has begun a series of ‘Ask and Act’ Continuing Medical Education Webcasts designed to help medical professionals develop new skills and practice strategies to help their patients live tobacco-free lives. Webcasts include Treating Tobacco Dependence, Become a Tobacco Aware Practice, and Conduct and Get Paid for Tobacco Cessation Group Visits. For more information visit the website by clicking here.

WHO to launch large-scale anti-tobacco campaign in Bangkok
The World Health Organization will launch an international anti-smoking public campaign in Bangkok to mark World No-Tobacco Day, from May 30th to July 1st. The WHO Director General Margaret Chan and the Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont are scheduled to declare their joint intention to fight tobacco use. Click here to read more.

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