Research

Identifying when smokers attempting cessation are at a higher risk of relapse
New research from the University of Texas Health Science Center at the Houston School of Public Health may have identified situations when smokers who are attempting to quit are at a higher risk of relapse. This novel study examined the moment-to-moment association between smoking urges and alcohol use during a smoking cessation attempt. Data was collected from 302 female participants between 18 and 70 years of age who were attempting smoking cessation between 1999 and 2002. The participants’ smoking urges were recorded at random times throughout the day, and they completed temptation assessments each time they felt the urge to smoke. Participants felt more intense urges to smoke on days when alcohol was consumed, and they were more likely to consume alcohol on days when they woke up with a strong urge to smoke. The identification of situations that increase the risk for relapse is important when creating smoking cessation interventions. Click here to read more about this study.

Nicotine lozenges, tobacco-free snuff help smokeless tobacco users quit, Mayo Clinic finds
A recent study conducted by the Mayo Clinic reports that nicotine lozenges or tobacco-free snuff assisted smokeless tobacco users in making the decision to quit or to significantly cut back. Chewing tobacco or snuff users that had no intention of quitting in the next thirty days were recruited for this study. About half were given nicotine lozenges, and the other almost half were given tobacco-free snuff to aid them in reducing their smokeless tobacco use. Over a couple of months, the participants were asked to reduce their use by 75%. Participants also received treatment and behavioral counseling regarding tobacco reduction strategies. Results showed that both groups significantly reduced their smokeless tobacco use. This study provides evidence that reducing tobacco intake with the assistance of products such as nicotine lozenges and tobacco-free snuff may induce users to want to quit. Click here to read more about this study published in Addictive Behaviors. Click here to access the study abstract.

Predictors of quit attempts and successful quit attempts in a nationally representative sample of smokers
A new study assessed the sociodemographic and clinical predictors of quit attempts and successful quit attempts among U.S. adults. Data from a nationally representative sample of smokers collected in two waves between 2001 and 2005 were used in this study. About 40% of individuals who had previously not attempted to quit, attempted to quit over the next 3 years and only 4.6% had succeeded. The groups that were less likely to try to quit were Hispanics, Asians, those with high incomes, and those with a college education. Individuals who used nicotine daily, were younger at first use, and exhibited the most symptoms of dependence were more likely to attempt to quit. Predictors of successful quitting included having less than a high school education and older age at first nicotine use. According to this study, more effective interventions that target increasing successful quit attempts are needed. Click here to read the study abstract published in Addictive Behaviors.

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Reports

American Lung Association welcomes final TRICARE rule on smoking cessation
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has released a rule that ensures that recipients of TRICARE, the health insurance program for military personnel, families, and retirees, have access to smoking cessation benefits. This new rule will allow plan enrollees the opportunity to get evidence-based smoking cessation assistance in the form of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved medications and all forms of counseling in order to quit using tobacco. Tobacco use is prevalent in the military, and increasing access to tobacco cessation benefits will aid in reducing tobacco use in this population will improve the health of military personnel and their families. Click here to read more.

ActionToQuit's new Tobacco Cessation Digest e-newsletter
ActionToQuit has released the first issue of its new monthly e-newsletter called “Tobacco Cessation Digest.” The e-newsletter will compile the previous month’s news on cessation topics into one publication. Also, all the tobacco cessation information included will be archived in one place for reference. Click here to view the most recent issue, or click here to subscribe to the e-newsletter.

Free continuing education webinar recording and e-book
The California Smokers' Helpline and the Center for Tobacco Cessation are offering the first recorded continuing education (CE) webinar and companion e-Book of their 2013 Tobacco-Free California Educational Series. The title of the first webinar was A Change from Within: Creating Synergy to Support Tobacco Cessation. This series is sponsored by the Helpline in partnership with Nurse.com with funding from the California Department of Public Health. The series contains three free CE webinars and companion e-books designed to educate nurses, nurse leaders, health system administrators, and healthcare providers throughout California about the importance of treating tobacco use among patients. Click here to read more and to download these free resources.

Subscribe to NAQC's Connection e-newsletter for information on quitlines
The North American Quitline Consortium (NAQC) is offering free subscriptions to its monthly e-newsletter, “Connection,” which keeps readers connected to timely information about tobacco control, research, and upcoming events in the quitline community. Click here to be placed on the distribution list.

NAQC releases two new resources on quitline sustainability
The North American Quitline Consortium (NAQC) has released two new resources to help increase the sustainability of quitlines. One resource is about using public-private partnerships to increase quitline sustainability. Public-private partnerships can be a viable option for ensuring quitline sustainability and continued access to evidence-based services for all tobacco users wanting to quit. Click here to learn more. The second resource relates to the expansion of Medicaid coverage. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a series of changes to the coverage for tobacco cessation services and identified ways states can elect to expand coverage. In order to aid states in developing their relationship with Medicaid, NAQC has developed a number of resources and a series of interactive webinars. Click here to learn more.

Training on smoking cessation for pregnant women
Adopting SCRIPT in your Organization is a one-day workshop from the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) that is designed to train health professionals to promote, implement and evaluate the Smoking Cessation and Reduction in Pregnancy Treatment (SCRIPT) program.  The training will provide insight and skills on how SCRIPT can become a part of routine prenatal care. Click here for more information and to apply for the training, or contact Deborah Gordon-Messer at dgordonmesser@sophe.org or 202-408-9804. The application deadline has been extended to April 3, 2013 for the training on April 16, 2013 at the SOPHE 2013 Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL.

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