Research

Evidence supports use of Web- and computer-based programs to help adults quit smoking
A meta-analysis of studies on computer and Web-based smoking cessation programs found that these programs are effective in helping adults quit smoking. The meta-analysis included 22 randomized controlled trials that compared cessation rates among smokers who participated in computer or Web-based cessation programs to control groups. In all the studies in the analysis, the intervention group that received the computer or Web-based cessation program had a significantly higher cessation rate than the control group. There was not sufficient evidence to support the use of these types of cessation programs for adolescent smokers. Click here for a summary of the findings, or click here to read the abstract of the research in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Genes: An extra hurdle to quitting smoking during pregnancy?
Statistically, women are more likely to quit smoking when they become pregnant, but despite the strong societal pressures and serious health risks to their child, some are unable to kick the habit. A new study examined data from 7,845 women in England to see if there was a possible genetic explanation for some pregnant smokers’ inability to quit. The study found that a common genetic variant associated with higher cigarette consumption also reduced the likelihood that a smoker would quit smoking during pregnancy. Researchers emphasized that this finding should not be used as an excuse to not quit, since many pregnant women with the genetic variation are able to stop smoking. Rather, the information can be utilized to provide more effective cessation treatment to those in need of more support. Click here to read more. Click here to read an abstract of the study in the journal Human Molecular Genetics.

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Reports

Kentucky’s adult smoking rate drops: State no longer leads the nation (KY)
West Virginia and Indiana have replaced Kentucky as the states with the highest adult smoking prevalence. Smoking dropped in Kentucky from 28.3% in 2007 to 25.2% in 2008. The decline has been attributed to the 2005 increase in Kentucky’s tobacco tax and the increase in smoking bans throughout the state. The cigarette tax was increased again this year, which is expected to decrease tobacco use even further in the state. Unfortunately, the state’s youth smoking prevalence did not follow the same trend. From 2006 to 2008, there was only a slight decrease in smoking among middle school students, and smoking among high school students increased during that period. Kentucky still has a long way to go to combat their high smoking prevalence, particularly among youth and pregnant women where the prevalence remains around 27% for both populations. Click here to read more.

State to offer relief for ‘tobacco tax’ (LA)
To help Louisiana residents quit smoking after the recent tax increase in the state, the Louisiana Tobacco Control Program and the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco Free Living have provided funding to offer all Louisiana residents who want to kick their cigarette habit free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT). Through the Quit With Us program, all residents who call the state’s tobacco quitline will receive free cessation counseling and NRT. The free NRT will be offered for a limited time beginning on May 4, 2009. Click here to read more.

NYC Quits Smoking: I Quit Because… (NY)
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has created a page on the online social networking site Facebook to help city residents quit smoking. The Facebook page named, “NYC Quits Smoking: I Quit Because…,” provides an additional outlet for city residents trying to quit smoking who are on Facebook to share their cessation stories and provide each other with support. The page also has interactive applications such as an ‘online patch’ that can be electronically sent to Facebook friends as encouragement. Click here to access the Facebook page.

Health group warns decline in Ohio smoking rate likely to end (OH)
Ohio has recently seen declines in the statewide smoking prevalence, but public health advocates are concerned that recent legislative proposals and budget cuts might deter this progress. Funding for smoking prevention and cessation programs in the state has recently been reduced, and there are proposals to weaken the statewide smoking ban. Research has shown that increased funding for tobacco cessation and strong smoke-free laws are highly effective measures to reduce tobacco use. Click here to read more.

My QuitLine iPhone app helps smokers kick the habit
A new application for the iPhone connects smokers with the National Cancer Institute’s quitline services. Users can obtain support from a counselor, or receive live text messaging for cessation advice. The My QuitLine application was developed by the George Washington University School of Public Health, and is the first iPhone smoking cessation app to use evidence-based methods that follow the 2008 U.S. Public Health Service guidelines for Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence. Click here for more information about My QuitLine.

DOD officials promote ‘World No Tobacco Day’
The World Health Organization declared May 31st as World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) and this year, for the first time, the United States Department of Defense (DOD) will be endorsing the event by encouraging observance by military service members. The effort is part of Quit Tobacco-Make Everyone Proud, the DOD’s tobacco cessation campaign. The DOD is promoting an online pledge that service members can sign to accept the challenge to become tobacco-free beginning on WNTD. Additional cessation tools are being offered free of charge to service members for WNTD, including promotional and informational items that can be used to hold WNTD events with family, friends, and others trying to quit, e-cards, social networking applications, and online blogging opportunities. The DOD has made the interactive cessation tools available through the website, www.ucanquit2.org. Click here to read more.

Congress plans incentives for healthy habits
As part of the effort to improve America’s healthcare system, Congress is examining several initiatives that would provide employers with incentives to encourage healthy behavior among employees, including tobacco cessation, improved diet, exercise, and weight loss. A few ideas currently under consideration are tax credits to employers offering wellness programs and changing current legislation that impedes employers from providing financial incentives for improving health. Congress is trying to make prevention and wellness a priority to improve America’s health. Click here to read more.

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International

Campaigns work to change people’s lifestyle (UK)
Noting that social marketing campaigns are known to be effective in encouraging healthy behavior, the UK Department of Health has set up a database to make proven social marketing campaigns available to those trying to develop similar programs. The database, called ShowCase, includes fully-researched case studies of campaigns that achieved measurable changes in health outcomes by promoting healthy behaviors such as smoking cessation, healthy eating, and cervical cancer screening. To be included, the campaigns had to meet national criteria on social marketing principles and be replicable by others. Click here to read an abstract of the article in the British Medical Journal, or click here to review the case studies on the ShowCase website.

Quit targets stymie long-term support, say smoking advisors (UK)
Providers of smoking cessation programs in the UK are citing the government’s four-week quit targets as a barrier to providing more effective tobacco cessation treatment. The government measures the performance of cessation programs based on quit rates at four weeks, which pressures programs to focus on short-term cessation in order to meet performance goals. Research shows that most smokers make multiple quit attempts before they are able to completely quit smoking. The health professionals who were surveyed say that the four-week targets limit what they can offer to smokers who have relapsed. The health workers were anonymously interviewed by researchers from the University of Nottingham. Click here to read more.

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