Research

Young adult former ever smokers: The role of type of smoker, quit attempts, quit aids, attitudes/beliefs, and demographics
A new study aimed to examine young adults who quit smoking and the factors associated with their successful quit attempt. Researchers conducted telephone interviews with 4,401 adults in Florida and measured sociodemographics, smoking behavior, quit attempts, use of cessation aids, and attitudes and beliefs about smoking. Of the participants, 37% were former smokers and 20% were current smokers. Characteristics associated with former smokers were being female and being a situational smoker. Former smokers were also more likely to have stopped without acknowledging making a quit attempt, less likely to have used a quit aid, and exhibit anti-tobacco attitudes and beliefs. Results of the study indicate that young adults may require novel intervention techniques to promote prevention and cessation based on these unique smoking patterns. Future research is needed to better understand motivations to quit smoking among young adults. Click here to view the study abstract in Preventive Medicine.

Electronic cigarettes may help you quit smoking, new study shows
The Lancet recently published a study finding evidence that e-cigarettes may be an effective cessation tool for helping smokers quit with few adverse events. To test the effectiveness of e-cigarettes as a cessation tool as compared to nicotine patches, 657 adults over the age of 18 were randomly assigned to one of three trial arms including e-cigarettes with nicotine, nicotine replacement patches, or placebo e-cigarettes with no nicotine. Results of the study show at six months, verified abstinence for e-cigarettes, nicotine patches, and placebo e-cigarettes were 7.3%, 5.8%, and 4.1%, respectively. No significant differences in reports of adverse events were found among the three treatment arms. The authors comment, “There is still so much that is unknown about the effectiveness and long-term effects of e-cigarettes. Given the increasing popularity of these devices in many countries, and the accompanying regulatory uncertainty and inconsistency, larger, longer-term trials are urgently needed to establish whether these devices might be able to fulfill their potential as effective and popular smoking cessation aids.” Click here to view a statement from Legacy affirming the need for further study of e-cigarettes and the need for FDA regulation of these devices. Click here to view the study abstract.

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Reports

Return on investment fact sheets
The North American Quitline Consortium (NAQC) has published a series of Employer Return on Investment (ROI) resources to educate employers on the benefits of providing smoking cessation treatment benefits, including quitline services. The fact sheets can be tailored with a program’s logo, and local smoking prevalence and quitline information. These guidance documents recognize that employers play a critical role in determining whether employees have access to tobacco cessation treatment benefits, as they are the major purchasers of health insurance plans. Click here to learn more.

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