Research

CHEST: Healthcare professionals lack knowledge about tobacco dependence
A recent survey indicated that many healthcare providers do not have sufficient training or knowledge about tobacco cessation to effectively help their patients quit smoking. Researchers asked 600 healthcare providers (of which 322 were medication prescribers such as physicians and nurse practitioners, and 278 were nonprescribers such as pharmacists and registered nurses) questions about smoking treatment guidelines, cessation drugs, smoking prevalence, and symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. While most providers stated that they regularly discuss cessation with their patients, only one in 20 was familiar with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) guidelines for treating nicotine dependence, and only 16% of prescribers were able to differentiate between over-the-counter and prescription cessation drugs. Most providers had received fewer than five hours of training on tobacco dependence. Despite this gap in formal training, 39% of prescribers and 12% of nonsprescribers reported success in helping their patients quit smoking. In light of these findings, the researchers note that better tobacco prevention training for healthcare providers could further improve cessation rates. This research was presented at the 2008 annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians. Click here to read more.

Today's smokers more addicted to nicotine
Smokers are more nicotine-dependent today than at any other time in the past fifteen years, according to research presented at CHEST 2008, the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians. Using a questionnaire to rank nicotine dependence on a scale of 0 to 11 points, researchers measured nicotine dependence among 630 smokers enrolled in cessation programs between 1989 and 2006. During this time period, overall nicotine dependence scores increased by 12%, and the amount of highly nicotine-dependent smokers (those with scores ranging from 7 to 11) increased 32%. According to the lead researcher, this may be due to genetic differences relating to addition. An expert from the American Lung Association also speculates that less-addicted smokers have already succeeded in quitting, while those who continue to smoke are more likely to be highly-addicted individuals who have been unable to quit. The study suggests that today’s highly-addicted smokers may need more intensive cessation assistance. Click here for more details.

Happily (and healthily) ever after
A longitudinal study of the health habits of married couples found that couples are more likely to quit smoking when they quit together. Data was sampled from the nationally-representative Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to examine 6,072 married individuals’ health behaviors, preventive care, and disease diagnoses over time. Smokers were five times more likely to quit smoking after a spouse had quit. This principle also applies to other health behavior changes, including alcohol consumption, health screenings, and flu vaccination. For example, individuals are five times more likely to stop drinking alcohol if their spouse quits drinking. This effect of marriage on behavior change may be a result of social support or the fact that the spouses may serve as a role models. Click here to read more. Click here to access the abstract of the article, which was published in the journal Health Services Research.

top

Reports

New American Lung Association report:  Quitting smoking saves lives and money
The American Lung Association has released a new report that demonstrating the benefits of improving state insurance coverage of tobacco cessation treatments. By spending money to help smokers quit, states can save money on future smoking-related healthcare costs—which can amount to $20,000 over a smoker’s lifetime. The report condenses the main points of the DHHS Clinical Practice Guideline on Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence, which describes tobacco cessation therapies. Citing the cost-effectiveness of cessation and prevention, the report calls upon states to expand coverage of cessation treatments for Medicaid recipients and state employees. Although smoking rates are high among individuals with low socioeconomic status, only seven states provide comprehensive Medicaid coverage for cessation, and six states provide no coverage at all. Click here to read a summary of the report. Click here to download the report.

Rx for change:  Clinician-assisted tobacco cessation
“Rx for Change” is an educational program designed to teach healthcare professionals how to address smoking cessation with their patients. Rx for Change is a comprehensive program largely based on the Clinical Practice Guideline on Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence, and materials are externally reviewed and continuously updated to reflect the most current science-based guidelines for treating tobacco use and dependence. Although Rx for Change was initially designed to teach students in the health professions about cessation, the program also is used for training licensed health professionals. Program materials are available to registered users of the Rx for Change website at no cost, and may be used for non-commercial teaching and research purposes. Click here to access the Rx for Change website.

Local bowling centers show smokers how to Become an EX®
During October, several states have collaborated with local bowling alleys to promote smoking cessation through the EX® campaign. Bowling alleys offered customers free bowling and shoe rentals, along with information about cessation. In some states, cessation counselors were available at the bowling alleys to provide immediate cessation advice and support. The Bowling Alley Takeovers were an attempt to reach smokers in their own element, and to get smokers thinking about the “triggers” that push them to smoke. The EX smoking cessation campaign, which was designed by a group of national public health organizations and state agencies, changes the way smokers think about quitting, and provides smokers with resources to “re-learn life without cigarettes.” Click here to read more.

What you'll save by quitting smoking
Using figures on smoking from the CDC and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Forbes presents an article and slideshow that describe the amount of money (not including healthcare costs) that smokers could save each year by quitting. The eye-catching slideshow provides statistics on the average cost of cigarettes per year for smokers in each state, based on per-capita cigarette sales and the per-pack cost of cigarettes. The annual cost of smoking not only reflects state cigarette tax rates, but also the amount of cigarettes being bought. The cost of cigarettes can have a dramatic effect on the amount of cigarettes consumed, and raising cigarette taxes is a proven way to decrease smoking rates. For example, in New York State, where cigarettes are the most expensive in the country at $8.66 per pack, only 34 packs were sold per capita, totaling $296 per smoker. Meanwhile, South Carolina sold 91 packs of cigarettes per person in 2007 at an average cost of $3.33, costing a total of $304 per person. The article makes the point that smokers can save money on cigarettes by going smoke-free, but the savings in healthcare expenditures is even more impressive. Click here to view the slideshow, and click here to read the accompanying article.

American Cancer Society Marks 33rd Great American Smokeout
Thursday, November 20, was the 33rd Great American Smokeout, and the American Cancer Society continues its legacy of providing free resources to help smokers quit. The Great American Smokeout was inaugurated in 1976 to inspire and encourage smokers to quit for one day. Now, 39.8 percent of the 43.4 million Americans who smoke have attempted to quit for at least one day in the past year, and the Great American Smokeout remains a great opportunity to encourage people to commit to making a long-term plan to quit for good Click here to read more about this national event.

Coalition  backs plan to provide all tobacco users with access to cessation treatment
Nearly two dozen of the nation’s business, labor, insurance, government and health care leaders including three former Secretaries of Health and Human Services and two former Surgeons General endorsed a bold plan to provide every American with access to comprehensive tobacco cessation treatment services by the year 2020. The National Working Group for ACTTION (Access to Cessation Treatment for Tobacco In Our Nation) unveiled the plan in a document entitled a “Call for ACTTION.” To read more about the plan, click here.

top

Back to Table of Contents