Associations between smokers’ attempts at harm reduction and smoking cessation: A prospective study of English smokers
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Author(s)
Emma Beard and Robert West
Presenter(s)
Emma Beard PhD Researcher, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London
Abstract
Aims: It is important to know how far smokers’ attempts at smoking harm reduction promote or undermine cessation. To contribute to that goal, this study aimed to assess whether smokers’ reports of smoking reduction (SR) and the use of NRT for SR and temporary abstinence (TA) predict subsequent attempts to quit smoking, smoking status, and the number of cigarettes smoked per day, in a population sample.
Method: Data from 3,149 current smokers involved in the Smoking Toolkit Study, a series of monthly surveys of adults aged 16+ with six-month follow-up, were used. At baseline, participants were asked whether they were attempting SR and, if so, whether they used NRT, and whether they regularly used NRT for TA. They were also asked for demographic data and daily cigarette consumption. At 6-month follow up, data on attempts to quit smoking and smoking status was also collected.
Results: Smokers reported smoking around two cigarettes less per day when using NRT for SR and TA (M=12.7 versus M=14.7, respectively), than when the same smokers did not report these harm reduction activities (M=14.1 versus M=16.1, respectively). These differences were statistically significant. NRT use for SR and TA was positively associated with attempts to quit smoking (OR 1.61, CI 1.30-2.01 versus OR 1.94, CI 1.56-2.38, respectively) and abstinence (OR 1.51, CI 1.06-2.16 versus OR 2.09, CI 1.51-3.34), at 6-months follow-up relative to SR or TA without NRT.
Conclusion: Use of NRT for SR and TA do not appear to result in large reductions in cigarette consumption but the use of NRT in these ways is positively associated with subsequent attempts to quit smoking and smoking status.
Source of funding: This study was funded by the English Department of Health, Cancer Research UK, Pfizer, Glaxo- SmithKline, and Johnson and Johnson, who had no involvement in the design of the study, the analysis or interpretation of the data, the writing of the report, or the decision to submit the paper for publication.
Declaration of interest: Emma has received conference funding from Pfizer.
Robert West undertakes research and consultancy and receives fees for speaking from companies that develop and manufacture smoking cessation medications. He also has a share of a patent for a novel nicotine delivery device.
