Research

The effect of smoking cessation counseling in pregnant women: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
According to a study published in BHOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, tobacco cessation counseling alone may not be enough to help pregnant women quit smoking. Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of randomized control trials designed to test the effects of smoking cessation counseling on pregnant smokers’ quit rates. The results show that quit rates were modest in all trials, and the women who received counseling were not much more successful at quitting smoking than the control groups. Six-month quit rates among women who received counseling ranged from 4-24% compared to a range of 2-21% in the control groups. The highest absolute difference in smoking abstinence was 4%. The researchers suggest that future studies examine whether a combination of counseling and nicotine replacement therapy or other pharmacotherapy is safe and efficacious for pregnant women. Read more here and read the study abstract here.

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Reports

Free EX® smoking cessation resources available for Great American Smoke Out
Looking for resources to help smokers quit on the Great American Smoke Out this November 17th? BecomeAnEX.org is a free, interactive website that shows smokers how to relearn life without cigarettes. The site, developed by Legacy in partnership with the Mayo Clinic, offers a free, personalized quit plan and an online support community to help people prepare to quit and stay quit. To help smokers gear up for their quit date, Legacy is offering free EX® info cards and downloadable EX® tear-off flyers. Orders must be received by October 24 for delivery by November 16. Click here to order and download free EX® resources to help  smokers who are looking to quit.

New cessation texting program from National Cancer Institute
A new tobacco cessation tool is available from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of the Text4Health initiative, an effort to encourage the delivery of health messages and resources via mobile phones. In addition to the information and services offered by Smokefree.gov, teens and adults can now sign up free of charge for the SmokefreeTXT and QuitNowTXT programs to receive smoking cessation encouragement, advice, and tips via text message. Smokers may sign up for the text messages up to one month prior to their planned quit date, and they receive text messages for six weeks after the quit date. The SmokefreeTXT program is designed for teens, while QuitNowTXT is aimed at adults. According to an HHS representative, the program is inexpensive, tailored to the individual participant, and allows for immediate delivery of health messages. Click here to read a press release from HHS about the new mobile health programs, or click here to visit the SmokefreeTXT website.

New online tobacco cessation tool available in Kansas (KS)
The Kansas Tobacco Quitline now includes an online component to its cessation services. The online service Web Coach® provides individualized counseling and support materials to those trying to quit smoking. Kansas residents may access the cessation services free of charge. Research shows that accessing support, such as through quitlines, can increase a person’s likelihood of successfully quitting smoking. Read more here, and access the online cessation tool here.

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