Research

State-level factors influencing tobacco cessation quitline spending in 2008
A new study from the University of Wisconsin indicates that per capita tobacco control program spending is the most consistent predictor of state per capita quitline spending. Researchers used data from the North American Quitline Consortium (NAQC) and the U.S. Census to estimate the per capita spending on quitline services. Other publicly available resources were used to gather information on additional variables, such as state median income, tobacco consumption, cigarette tax rate, political ideology, and tobacco production. The results show that of all of the variables tested, only per capita tobacco control expenditures were predictive of quitline spending, possibly due to the economic recession, year to year variability, or the integration of quitlines into state tobacco control programs. In order to optimize advocacy and support efforts, the researchers say that more work must be done to determine whether other state-level factors influence quitline funding. Read the abstract of the study, published in Preventive Medicine, here.

National survey of U.S. health professionals’ smoking prevalence, cessation practices, and beliefs
New research suggests that U.S. health professionals are not fully performing the “5 A’s,” a set of steps designed to help healthcare providers encourage their patients to quit using tobacco. The researchers asked 2,804 health professionals about their smoking status, cessation practices, beliefs, and performance of the 5 A’s (Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, Arrange follow-up). The results indicate that awareness of the Public Health Service guidelines, having had cessation training, and believing that treatment was a professional responsibility were associated with performing the 5 A’s. Being a current smoker, not being a primary care physician, being uncomfortable asking patients about their smoking status, thinking that counseling was not an appropriate service, and having competing priorities were associated with not performing the 5 A’s. Click here to read more, or click here to read the abstract of the study, published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research.

Quitting smoking may ease stress levels
A new study published in the journal Addiction suggests that quitting smoking could lower perceived stress levels among highly dependent smokers. Researchers collected data from 469 smokers hospitalized for heart disease that had expressed a desire to quit, including their perceptions on how helpful smoking was at managing stress, smoking status, and perceived stress, both at baseline and one year later. At one year follow-up, the patients that had continuously abstained from smoking for a year reported a 20% decrease in perceived chronic stress compared to those who had continued smoking. These findings support the theory that tobacco dependency can be a source of chronic stress. Click here to read more, or click here to read the abstract of the study.

Nicotine mouth spray quickly curbs cravings
Research published in the journal Addiction and funded by Swedish manufacturer of cessation drugs, NicoNovum AB, shows that nicotine mouth sprays, lozenges, and gums are all effective in reducing tobacco cravings, with the mouth spray providing the fastest relief. A total of 47 adult smokers were given each treatment plus a placebo lozenge over the course of four days and were asked to report on a 100-point scale their urges to smoke, irritability, concentration, and restlessness before and during the first hour of the product use. The results indicate that the mouth spray reduced cravings by 28.6 points and relieved cravings in five minutes, the lozenge reduced cravings by 25.8 points in ten minutes, and gum reduced cravings by 24.7 points in fifteen minutes. Researchers say that the rapid relief provided by the mouth spray could be just as important to some smokers as the magnitude of relief. The mouth spray is not yet available in the U.S. Click here to read more, or read the study abstract.

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Reports

Quitline Iowa drops free patches and gum (IA)
Iowa’s tobacco helpline will no longer be offering free nicotine patches and gum to smokers trying to quit. The Iowa Department of Public Health made the decision due to budget cuts that forced them to choose between providing the nicotine replacement therapy or maintaining the quitline. Officials say that over 54,300 people have used the quitline since 2008 to get help with making a cessation plan, and half of those callers utilized the free patches and gum. These therapies will no longer be offered through the quitline as of June 30. Read more here.

More calls to the Michigan Tobacco Quit Line after smoke-free air law takes effect (MI)
One month into the implementation of the statewide smokefree law, the Michigan Tobacco Quit Line reports a 20% increase in call volume. The increase in calls is attributed to the new law, which prohibits smoking in workplaces, thereby eliminating triggers to smoke on the job. Officials at the Michigan Department of Community Health, which runs the Quit Line, cite a study in the American Journal of Public Health that indicates smokers employed in places with strong smoke-free workplace laws were 38% more likely to quit over a six month period than those not employed in such places. Click here to read more.

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