Research

FDA cigarette study casts doubt on whether new warning labels would help smokers quit
Results from a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) funded survey conducted by RTI International suggest that the graphic warning labels to be placed on cigarette packages in 2012 may not have a substantial impact on smoking rates. The survey analyzed participants’ reactions to the new pictorial labels that will be placed on cigarette packs and found that the warning labels did not elicit an increased desire to quit smoking or a decreased desire to initiate smoking. A spokesperson from the FDA notes that implementation of the graphic warning labels is required by law, so the purpose of this survey was to determine the best way to do what is required by law. Despite the results, the FDA is projecting that the warning labels will reduce the number of smokers in the American population by 213,000 during the first year, based on outcomes seen in other countries that have implemented graphic warning labels. Read more here.

Study finds text messages help smokers quit
According to a study published in The Lancet, text messages can improve smoking cessation rates. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either motivational smoking cessation text messages or non-motivational text messages. Those randomized to the cessation messages had higher quit rates at six months than those who did not receive cessation messages. Researchers suggest that motivational text messages should be included in smoking cessation services. Read more here, or click here to read the study abstract.

Pediatric surgery and parental smoking behavior
According to a study published in Anesthesiology, parents who smoke are more likely to make a quit attempt if their children have had surgery, but those quit attempts are not more likely to be successful. Researchers performed a secondary analysis on National Health Interview Survey data to determine children’s surgery history and their parents’ smoking status and quit attempts. The results show that parents were twice as likely to make a quit attempt within the past 12 months if their child had undergone surgery within the same time period, but were not more likely to be successful in their quit attempts. The authors suggest that parents that have a child going through surgery could benefit from smoking cessation assistance. Read more here and read the study abstract here.

Promoting a web-based smoking cessation intervention: Implications for practice
A case study published in Public Health Communication and Marketing examines the effectiveness of a multi-channel mass media campaign designed to build demand for smoking cessation services. The case study looks at the cessation intervention “Become an EX” to determine its engagement, reach and interest among an online audience of smokers. The study found that during the first two years of the marketing campaign, almost 1.5 million visitors viewed the EX website, and over 15% of the online visitors registered for the EX Quit Plan. The case study concludes that multimedia cessation campaigns can be successful at reaching smokers, including specific populations that have higher-than-average smoking rates. Click here to read the case study.

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Reports

New labels spur smokers to call quit lines
The American Lung Association is reporting an increase in the number of calls to state tobacco quitlines following the highly-publicized announcement of graphic warning labels that will be required on cigarette packages. The spike in quitline calls is cited as evidence that telling smokers about quitlines does encourage them to call. Starting in 2012, cigarette packages will prominently display a toll-free quit-smoking phone number, 1-800-QUIT-NOW. The American Lung Association stresses that states must allocate appropriate funds to their quitlines to ensure that all individuals interested in tobacco cessation have the proper support. Read more here. Click here to view daily call volume totals for 1-800-QUIT-NOW in the days surrounding the warning label announcement.

New cessation training available for cardiology professionals
Cardiology RX for Change is a tobacco cessation program from the University of California, San Francisco that provides cardiology professionals with training on evidence-based approaches to help patients with smoking cessation. This free online training program teaches the user about different aspects of smoking cessation, and includes an interactive video case study that allows cardiology professionals to practice assisting a patient interested in smoking cessation. Cardiology RX for Change is one of several versions of the RX for Change program that are tailored to different types of clinical care providers. Learn more about the training here.

Quitplan website revamped with new features to help Minnesotans quit smoking (MN)
The free smoking cessation program Quitplan, which is available to Minnesota residents, now has an updated website with more interactive elements. Website users can now set up individually tailored quit plans, and can communicate with Quit Coaches and other users of the website who are also quitting smoking. The Quitplan website also delivers content that is tailored to smokers based on where they are in the smoking cessation process. Although a quitline spokesperson says it is too early to gauge whether the website enhancements have helped more smokers quit, Quitplan has helped over 18,000 Minnesotans quit smoking since 2001. The website and state quitline are run by nonprofit organization ClearWay Minnesota and funded by the Minnesota Tobacco Settlement. Read more here, or click here to visit the Quitplan Services website.

Free Washington tobacco quitline service cancelled (WA)
The Washington State quitline is no longer available to the uninsured because of Health Department budget cuts. The quitline, which provides smokers with support in quitting smoking at no charge, can now only be accessed by individuals with insurance through a commercial plan, their employer, or Medicaid. Read more here, or click here to view more information about the quitline and eligible populations. Uninsured smokers and others ineligible to use the quitline are being referred to the quitline website for other materials and resources.

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