Exploratory survey study of long-term users of nicotine replacement therapy in Danish consumers

National Smoking Cessation Services (NSCS) enrollment and their effect on long-term tobacco cessation in Korea: Results from a 1-year prospective follow-up of NSCS participants

INTRODUCTION

The study aimed to identify predictors associated with long-term tobacco cessation at 12-month follow-up among users of the National Smoking Cessation Services (NSCS) in Korea.

METHODS

To measure the long-term effect of NSCS delivery, the target sample size of 5167 adult smokers registered in the NSCS in 2018 was enrolled with proportional random sampling. A multiple logistic regression analysis (crude, adjusted) was performed to identify the changes in smoking status at the 12-month follow-up after the last NSCS enrollment and the potential factors associated with changes in smoking status.

RESULTS

The response rate to reach the number of subjects targeted was 22.4%. A total of 41.2% of the tobacco users enrolled had successfully quit at baseline, and the 7-day point prevalence of tobacco cessation at the follow-up at 12 months, via a telephone survey, was 34.4%. Factors positively associated with cessation at the 12-month follow-up were longer experience with tobacco abstinence and additional quitting attempts with or without NSCS enrollment, although every additional quit attempt with NSCS use had a better outcome. In addition, having a successful quit outcome with NSCS use at the baseline and having more satisfaction with the service of professional counseling or incentives than others provided by NSCS, increased cessation at follow-up after adjustment of other factors considered.

CONCLUSIONS

In addition to multiple quitting attempts, longer experience with tobacco abstinence, and additional enrollment in NSCS, the service experience, and satisfaction with the content that NSCS offered, might improve the lasting success of abstinence. These results might be considered to improve the contents and protocols of the NSCS for better outcomes.

Consumer experiences of long-term oral nicotine replacement therapy and related health information-seeking: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) delivers a therapeutic dose of nicotine to support smoking cessation, and is currently approved for short-term use (typically ≤12 weeks). Yet, research on real-world over-the-counter NRT use indicates that some consumers continue to use these products long-term. This study sought to understand consumers' experiences of long-term oral NRT use, including self-reported reasons for continued use, and health information-seeking regarding long-term use.

METHODS

In-depth semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted between May and June 2021 with 21 current and former NRT consumers aged ≥18 years from across Australia, with oral NRT use of ≥1 year. Interviews were thematically analysed using the Framework Method.

RESULTS

The majority of participants reported achieving NRT-assisted smoking cessation and related health benefits (e.g. respiratory health, improved physical appearance). However, nearly all participants reported experiencing addiction to oral NRT, with many attributing their long-term use to dependence on these products. Participants reported low engagement with NRT health information sources; just half reported consulting with a health professional regarding their long-term NRT use, and some reported negative experiences when health professional advice was sought (e.g. perceptions of not being taken seriously, perceived lack of health professional knowledge). Less than half of participants accurately identified the duration of use recommended in NRT consumer medicine information, and some reported actively dismissing this information.

CONCLUSION

Findings highlight consumers' perceived benefits of continued NRT use whilst also identifying two key concerns - the addictive potential of oral NRT, and low health information-seeking and health professional engagement regarding long-term use. While oral NRT is indisputably safer than tobacco smoking, public health strategies to raise consumer and health professional awareness about the safe use of NRT, which acknowledge the current evidence gap regarding safety and efficacy of long-term use, are needed to maximise their benefits as a harm reduction strategy for smoking cessation.

Characteristics of first-time varenicline users - A cross-sectional study in Finnish quitters

BACKGROUND

Varenicline is an efficacious medicine for smoking cessation (SC) but little is known about the characteristics of varenicline users. This study examined the characteristics of first-time (naïve) varenicline users in Finland and compared those who had previously used SC pharmacotherapy to those who were trying SC pharmacotherapy for the first time.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Finnish community pharmacies between February 2014 and January 2015. Pharmacy customers purchasing a varenicline starter package for the first time ever were asked to complete a questionnaire or to participate in a structured interview conducted by the pharmacist (identical questions). The questionnaire included questions about demographic characteristics, smoking habits, previous cessation attempts and factors associated with varenicline use.

RESULTS

Altogether 98 people completed the survey. The majority were daily smokers (96%, n = 94), with a history of over 10 years of regular smoking (94%, n = 92), and a strong/very strong nicotine dependence (67%, n = 66). Half of the participants (54%, n = 53) were trying a SC pharmacotherapy for the first time. Demographic characteristics and smoking habits were similar between first-time and previous users of SC medications (p > 0.05). Health centers (42%, n = 41) and occupational health care clinics (37%, n = 36) were the most common sources of varenicline prescriptions. The majority of participants received the prescription for varenicline after mentioning their desire for quitting to a physician (70%, n = 69).

CONCLUSIONS

Considering the relatively large proportion of SC naïve medicine users among new users of varenicline, smokers who have previously been reluctant to quit smoking, to use other pharmacological SC interventions, or perhaps unaware of these options may be interested in attempting cessation with varenicline. Most participants made the initiative to discuss their smoking with the physician, which led to varenicline prescribing. This suggests that physicians may not satisfactorily recognize their patients' nicotine dependence and desire to quit, and they should more actively support patients' smoking cessation.

Diet and acne: an exploratory survey study of patient beliefs

Background:

In the past, medical literature reflected that diet was not a proven cause of acne. However, studies in recent years have substantiated a link between certain dietary factors and acne. It is unclear whether patients are aware of recent research findings.

Objectives:

Acne patients were surveyed to explore beliefs regarding the link between diet and acne, to determine whether these beliefs translated into behavior change and to identify health information sources.

Patients/Methods:

Upon Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, surveys were administered to 50 acne patients at an academic dermatology clinic in 2014, with 49 completed in full and included in this analysis.

Results:

Ninety-two percent of respondents believed that diet could affect acne. Seventy-one percent attempted to change their diet to improve acne. Seventy-one percent believed acne to be caused by fried or greasy foods, although chocolate (53%), dairy (47%), and soda drinks (35%) were highly implicated. Patients obtained information from Google searches (49%), dermatologists (43%), family members and TV (41% each), and medical websites (31%).

Conclusions:

In this exploratory study, patients reported utilizing a diversity of information sources, a majority from the Internet. In those surveyed, there was a persistence of long-held belief that fried/greasy foods and chocolate may serve as acne triggers, and less belief in trigger foods supported by recent research, including refined carbohydrates and sugar. Given the multiplicity of beliefs and utilized sources among acne patients in our survey, there is a need to establish up-to-date and reliable methods to educate patients on diet and acne.