Research

Interventions for tobacco cessation in the dental setting
An analysis of clinical trials assessed the impact of tobacco cessation interventions conducted by oral health professionals on tobacco abstinence rates. Several smoking cessation clinical trials conducted in a dental office or a community setting with at least six months follow-up were examined to determine if they were effective in reducing incidence of cigarette smoking and smokeless tobacco use. Various intervention tactics were used, and the analysis suggests that interventions conducted by oral health professionals were associated with an increase in tobacco abstinence rates among smokeless tobacco users. The data gathered from this study suggest that oral health professionals are effective in delivering tobacco cessation interventions. Click here to read the study abstract published in the online resource Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

Weight gain in smokers after quitting cigarettes: meta-analysis
A meta-analysis was performed to identify factors associated with weight gain after quitting smoking. The researchers analyzed 62 controlled trials that included smoking cessation interventions and reported weight change from baseline to follow-up in abstinent smokers at one, two, three, six and twelve months after quitting. Overall, the average weight gain among quitters in all groups (treatment and control groups) was 4-5kg after twelve months of abstinence with most of the weight gained within the first three months after quitting; however, there were wide variations in weight change, with some former smokers losing weight, while others gained weight. Weight gain was similar among those who used various pharmacotherapies in cessation, and among those who were concerned with weight gain versus those who were not. Click here to read more about this study published in the British Medical Journal.

Doctors discussing smoking cessation less
According to a recent study published in Preventing Chronic Disease, U.S. physicians are discussing smoking cessation with their patients less frequently compared to a few years ago. Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention examined data from the 2000, 2005, and 2010 Cancer Control Supplement of the National Health Interview Survey to determine if the smoking participants had received smoking cessation advice in the past twelve months. In 2000, 53.3% had received advice to quit smoking, and the numbers peaked in 2005 at 58.9%. By 2010, the number of patients that received advice decreased to 50.7%. Differences in smoking cessation advice given were also found by race, gender, and education level. Physicians play an important role in promoting healthy lifestyles in their patients, and smoking cessation advice is an important factor in helping smokers quit. Click here to read more. Click here to read the study abstract.

The need for tobacco cessation in a free clinic population
Investigation into the prevalence of smoking and quit attempts was conducted among uninsured patients who attend free clinics, and has revealed an opportunity for smoking cessation programs. Exit interviews were given to 158 patients after a visit to a free clinic. Eighty-three percent of the patients were tobacco users, the majority of whom had made a quit attempt in the past year. Tobacco use among this population is more than twice the national average, which reveals the opportunity to increase tobacco screening and interventions in communities where free clinics are located. Click here to read the study abstract and full article published in Addictive Behaviors.

Preventing smoking relapse via web-based computer-tailored feedback: A randomized controlled trial
Web-based computer-tailored programs in combination with strategy assignments and feedback may be effective in long term cessation efforts, new data reveal. Researchers tested two web-based computer-tailored programs for efficacy in preventing smoking relapse among daily smokers (n=2,031) ages 18 to 65 that were willing to quit. One group was given tailored feedback at baseline along with six coping planning assignments. A second group had an extended version of the program that included the assignments plus tailored feedback at eleven points after quitting smoking. A third control group was also included. The results indicate that web-based computer-tailored programs, combined with assignments and feedback, were most effective in preventing relapse after twelve months. Click here to access the study abstract and full article published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.

Seniors with serious illness find smoking, drinking tough habits to break
The majority of seniors diagnosed with chronic diseases do not take up healthier behaviors, according to a new study published in the Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences. Data from adults ages 50 to 85 that took part in the ongoing Health and Retirement Study were analyzed by researchers at Portland State University to find out how much they changed their smoking, drinking, and exercise behaviors after being diagnosed with chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, respiratory disease, and diabetes. Among the participants diagnosed with lung disease, only 19% gave up smoking within two years. The largest change reported was that 40% of those diagnosed with heart disease quit smoking. Differences between gender, socioeconomic status, and education were also examined. This study gives evidence that greater efforts are needed to encourage lifestyle improvements among older adults diagnosed with chronic diseases or conditions. Click here to read more. Click here to access the study abstract.

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Reports

CDC says graphic anti-smoking ads work, more on way
The graphic ad campaign released this year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was successful, according to the CDC’s data. The controversial ad campaign ran for twelve weeks, contained graphic images of smokers suffering from tobacco related diseases, and was focused toward encouraging current smokers to quit smoking. This was the first time an anti-smoking campaign has been funded by the U.S. government. The campaign generated 192,000 extra calls to the national toll-free quit line, and tripled the number of visitors to the smokefree.gov website. Official numbers on how many people have actually quit due to the campaign have not been counted yet, but due to the success of the first round of ads, a new set of ads is scheduled to be released next year. Click here to read more. Related: CDC seeking individuals for National Tobacco Education Campaign The CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health is recruiting individuals to feature as spokespeople in its next national tobacco education campaign. Click here for more information.

ActionToQuit addition to website
The website for Partnership for Prevention’s ActionToQuit initiative to advance tobacco control policy has a new addition. This new subsection is called Health Systems, and it contains reports and resources related to health systems change and working with healthcare providers to increase smokers’ access to tobacco cessation services. There is also additional information regarding hospitals and community health centers. To access this subsection, click here and go to “Our Work,” then “Health Systems.”

Tobacco cessation programs save money and lives
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) released a brief that highlights the importance of investing in comprehensive cessation programs in reducing healthcare costs and productivity losses. The report includes case studies of state tobacco cessation programs to demonstrate how as much as $50 can be saved for every dollar spent on measures such as creating smoke-free workplaces and higher taxes. Additionally, the brief notes that these programs tend to be among the first to be cut in times of economic distress. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, and reducing the number of smokers can lead to a significant reduction in healthcare costs. Click here to read more, and to access the report.

Multi-State Collaborative: Two recent publications advancing health systems work
The Multi-State Collaborative for Health Systems Change has published two papers describing important advances in health systems work. The paper, “Integrating Tobacco Cessation Quitlines Into Healthcare: Massachusetts, 2002-2011” describes the successful integration of the state’s quitline into healthcare systems, including the use of electronic referrals and lessons learned that may impact quitline sustainability. Click here to access this article. The other paper, “The Effect of Systematic Clinical Interventions with Cigarette Smokers on Quit Status and the Rates of Smoking-Related Primary Care Office Visits,” is an analysis of the impact of a systems intervention at a healthcare delivery system. The article demonstrates a significant decrease in smoking-related office visits for patients at sites implementing the intervention. The article is available by clicking here.

Recorded webinar for Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit: 'Three Steps to Smoke-free Families: Clinical Systems Change and Policy Prescriptions'
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence released a webinar recording focused on using an office-based system to address family tobacco use and the potential causes of harm to nonsmoking family members due to tobacco smoke exposure. The Clinical Effort Against Secondhand smoke Exposure (CEASE) program is discussed as a way to address family tobacco use and exposure to both secondhand and thirdhand smoke in clinical practice. Featured presenters include Jonathan Winickoff, MD, MPH, FAAP, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and Cathy McDonald, MD, MPH, FAAP, Alameda County Tobacco Dependence Treatment Project. This archived webinar is approved for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ . Click here for more information.

State resumes its tobacco quitline (WA)
After being shut down for a year, Washington State’s toll-free tobacco quitline is back. Due to the state’s budgetary issues, the quitline was forced to shut down, causing Washington to be the only state in the country without a publicly available quitline. The quitline is now available to uninsured adults, pregnant women, and Medicare recipients. Quitline callers can receive smoking cessation counseling and four weeks of nicotine patches or gum. Click here to read more.

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International

CAMH launches website to help pregnant women quit smoking (Canada)
A new website has been created to encourage women who are pregnant, thinking about becoming pregnant, or have just given birth to quit or reduce smoking. PREGNETS is a supportive, women-centered resource that promotes smoking cessation among expectant and new mothers in Canada. Canada’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) has designed the PREGNETS website for women’s needs based on research that included input from pregnant and postpartum women. Smoking during pregnancy and/or exposing infants to secondhand smoke can result in negative health outcomes, and is discouraged by the health community. Click here to read more.

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