Research

Healthcare costs around the time of smoking cessation
A recent study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine examined the potential healthcare cost increase in smoking cessation therapy among smokers who successfully quit compared to costs for those who continue to smoke. The researchers analyzed healthcare cost data from 1,346 individuals enrolled in cessation therapy trials between October 2005 and May 2007, and studied the cost differences before and after the cessation attempt. No differences were initially found in healthcare costs between those who quit smoking and continuous smokers, however, after the sixth quarter after quitting, healthcare costs for former smokers were $541 less than the healthcare costs for current smokers. These data suggest that longer periods of time without smoking are associated with lower healthcare costs. Click here to read the study abstract.

Physician advice on avoiding secondhand smoke exposure and referrals for smoking cessation services
Data from the 2008 DocStyles survey were utilized in an examination of primary care providers’ advice pertaining to secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure and cessation programs to analyze how obstetricians/gynecologists, pediatricians, and general practitioners advised patients on SHS exposure and cessation programs such as quitlines and counseling. The data suggest that the majority encourage their patients to protect children from SHS (94.9%), make homes and cars smoke-free (86.1%), and avoid SHS exposure (77.4%) while fewer healthcare providers referred patients to cessation programs (44%). The authors note that it is important for healthcare providers to educate patients on the importance of avoiding SHS exposure, and to refer those who use tobacco products to appropriate cessation programs and services in order to promote overall health. To read this study abstract published in Tobacco Induced Diseases, click here.

Healthcare providers' advice to quit smoking, NHIS 2000, 2005, 2010
Due to a lack of evidence that healthcare providers (HCP) are promoting smoking cessation, a study was performed and published in Preventing Chronic Disease that examined the number of adults that receive advice from their HCPs. The researchers used data from the 2000, 2005, and 2010 Cancer Control Supplement of the National Health Interview Survey to determine the number of adult patients that received smoking cessation advice from their HCP. Approximately half of smokers received cessation advice in 2000, 2005, and 2010 with numbers declining over the years from 58.9% in 2005 to 50.7% in 2010. HCPs are encouraged to increase their efforts in promoting smoking cessation to their patients. Click here to access this publication.

top

International

Lost productivity due to premature mortality in developed and emerging countries: an application to smoking cessation
Research has found that estimates of the present value of lifetime earnings (PVLE) lost as a result of premature mortality due to smoking are higher for men, younger people, and people in developed countries. A study published in BMC Medical Research Methodology analysed the estimated productivity costs of premature mortality due to smoking using the PVLE model of 29 developed and emerging countries. The PVLE rates were higher among men, younger people, and those in developed countries. The inclusion of the value of lost productivity due to premature mortality into economic analyses of health interventions and treatments is a new way of examining this data and provides a more thorough analysis. Click here to read more about this study.

top

Back to Table of Contents