Methods to help quit smoking assessed

News release from NETSCC, HTA

26 August 2010

New research is helping to expand the evidence base in the area of smoking cessation.
The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) programme has funded two new studies in this area.

With the growing awareness of the health risks and inequalities associated with smoking it is vital that research is conducted into new ways of helping people to give up, especially as 74 per cent of smokers say they want to quit, but only a tiny proportion of these people make use of the free service provided by the NHS.

A clinical trial led by Dr Hazel Gilbert, University College London is trying to reach and motivate smokers who do not usually come forward to quit smoking services. The research team will compare two different methods of attracting and encouraging smokers to attend the NHS Specialist Smoking Cessation Services (NHS SCS).

Participants are being recruited through practices in ten different primary care trusts and randomly allocated to receive a standard letter or a personalised invitation. The standard approach advertises the NHS service and will ask them to contact the service and make an appointment. The personalised approach involves a letter from their GP that includes information specific to the patient derived from their medical records, plus an invitation to a 'come and try it' taster session to find out more about the intervention. Researchers will assess which group is more likely to attend the NHS service and to quit smoking.

“Investigating and overcoming the blocks to smoking cessation could provide valuable information for other services who struggle to reach all parts of the community,” says Dr Gilbert. “In turn this could help tackle the continuing health inequalities in this country.”

To view the full project details visit www.hta.ac.uk/2151

A second trial is assessing whether physical activity versus brief advice enhances quit attempts and successful quitting, among 'hard-to-reach' smokers from lower-socio-economic groups. Previous research and a pilot study conducted by this research team suggest that physical activity can help smokers to manage cravings, withdrawal symptoms, stress and weight gain.

Led by Professor Adrian Taylor of the University of Exeter, researchers will conduct an exploratory trial in which 120 smokers (wishing to cut down) will be randomly allocated to receive either brief advice on cutting down, or a physical activity intervention plus brief advice. Smokers wishing to quit in both groups will be offered support by the Plymouth NHS SSS for up to six weeks.

“Smoking reduction strategies (particularly using nicotine replacement therapy) have been shown to increase quit attempts and increase abstinence among those not initially wishing to quit,” says Professor Taylor. “While the addition of physical activity to usual care has been shown to increase abstinence rates among smokers making an abrupt quit attempt.

Professor Taylor continued: “The role of increasing physical activity as an aid to smoking reduction, then quitting has not been examined, especially among 'hard-to-reach' smokers. This research could lead to an increase in the numbers who get into smoking cessation therapy, and is a vital step toward improving the population’s health.”

To view the full project details visit www.hta.ac.uk/2082

Notes for editors

 1. The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) programme commissions research about the effectiveness, costs, and broader impact of health technologies for those who use, manage and provide care in the NHS. It is the largest NIHR programme and publishes the results of its research in the Health Technology Assessment journal, with over 530 issues published to date. The journal’s 2009 Impact Factor (4.197) ranked it in the top 10% of medical and health-related journals. All issues are available for download free of charge from the website, www.hta.ac.uk

2. The National Institute for Health Research provides the framework through which the research staff and research infrastructure of the NHS in England is positioned, maintained and managed as a national research facility. The NIHR provides the NHS with the support and infrastructure it needs to conduct first-class research funded by the Government and its partners alongside high-quality patient care, education and training. Its aim is to support outstanding individuals (both leaders and collaborators), working in world class facilities (both NHS and university), conducting leading edge research focused on the needs of patients. www.nihr.ac.uk

Contact details

Naomi Williams, Programme Manager (Communications)
Telephone: 02380 595 646, Email: N.E.Williams@southampton.ac.uk

Emma Sunderland, Assistant Programme Manager (Communications)
Telephone: 02380 599 094, Email: E.Sunderland@southampton.ac.uk

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