The goal of this study was to evaluate the Adolescent Smoking Cessation Escaping Nicotine and Tobacco (ASCENT) program, a multifaceted smoking cessation intervention for teens, aged 14 to 18. Seven schools were randomised into either an intervention group (n = 61) or a comparison control group (n = 44). Findings suggested that 67% of the teens in the experimental group reported they did not smoke daily in the past 12 months, compared to 42% of the control group (p < .05). In addition, experimental (treated) youth reduced their smoking from an average of 8 cigarettes a day at baseline to 6 cigarettes a day (p < .05). Although not statistically significant, the overall 1-year quit rate for both groups was higher than the average rate for youth cessation programs (12%). The results of this study suggest that, with appropriate interventions, it is feasible to reduce youth smoking.

The aim was to determine the factors that contribute to behavioural change in smokers, and to assess differences in the distribution of these factors between those in lower and higher stages of behavioural change using the transtheoretical model (TTM). A total of 112 participants were recruited from smoking cessation clinics in six local health authorities in North Wales, United Kingdom into a cross-sectional study; 46% of the participants were in the lower stages of the TTM (Precontemplation and Contemplation). The odds of being in the higher stage of behavioural change were not significantly associated with any of the factors considered (p > 0.05). In open-ended questions, the main factors reported to influence the decision to quit smoking were related to health and expenditure on cigarettes. The findings of this study suggest that in addition to the existing health strategy of promoting knowledge of the health impact of smoking, understanding factors influencing smokers to take steps towards quitting is also important.

The aim of this cross-sectional study is to explore, in a sample of 380 college students, if there are any differences between regular, occasional and ex-smokers regarding health value, perceived health competence and self-efficacy to refrain from smoking. Stages of change are also assessed according to the transtheoretical model. There were no significant differences between groups regarding the health value. However, perceived health competence and self-efficacy (to refrain from smoking) were significantly different for the different smoking status and several stages of change. These findings provide new insights into how college student's health-related perceptions relate to smoking behaviour, which may help in the elaboration of smoking cessation interventions for this population.

This is an open study, with 5 years follow-up, of 502 smokers who received treatment according to their degree of physical nicotine dependence. Those least dependent (BCG) were not given nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), while those with the highest level of dependence (NRTG) used nicotine patches during a 12-week period. A total of 267 subjects completed a 5-year period of followup; 123 were from the BCG and 144 from the NRTG. The abstinence was greater for those who used NRT than for those in the BCG: 29.9% as opposed to 24.4%, for intermittent abstinence (OR 0.93; CI 95 %: 0.53–1.62), and 20.1% as opposed to 15.4% for continual abstinence (OR 1.41; IC 95 %: 0.75–2.66). The 74.4% of subjects who achieved 5 years of abstinence and belonged to the NRTG had correctly completed the pharmacological therapy and 25.6% had not done so. Of those who were not able to achieve nonsmoking status at 5 years, 37.6% had correctly completed the therapy and 62.4% had not done so (p < .05). At the 5-year follow-up 20.1% of subjects who used NRT for 3 months remained abstinent, while only 15.4% of those without patches remained abstinent. Those patients who were more likely to achieve abstinence were those who were older and who were male.

Objective: To report on the use of the New Zealand Quitline for recruiting participants to a smoking cessation trial. Methods: Analysis of data on trial recruitment and randomisation. Results: 68% of 26,369 callers to the New Zealand Quitline over 12 months indicated an interest in taking part in research, 28% of whom met eligibility criteria for a cessation intervention trial, assessed on the data routinely collected at Quitline registration. Of these, 1317 (26%) were contacted by call back with 1027 (78%) agreeing to take part in the trial. After further eligibility checking 851 people were randomised. Weighting of calls ensured that 25% of participants were Maori. Conclusions: Quitlines have good potential to be an effective means of randomising participants into cessation trials and ensuring adequate representation of underrepresented population groups.

Health care professionals (HCPs) in New Zealand have access to free smoking cessation training that enables them to deliver smoking cessation support and provide Government subsidised nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). However, it is unknown how many trainees go on to provide cessation services or what level of smoking cessation support activity they undertake. A questionnaire was sent to 1183 HCPs to assess this and also enquire about barriers to establishing and/or providing a cessation service. Despite a low response rate (11%) a number of important issues were identified; 84% of respondents had provided smoking cessation treatment and the majority of these (92%) were still providing treatment. The most frequent barriers reported were lack of dedicated time and funding to provide treatment. Support in establishing smoking cessation treatment and ongoing training support were the 2 main trainee needs. Smoking cessation specialists are a relatively new group of HCPs whose numbers are likely to grow. Smoking cessation training should address the needs of HCPs and a range of barriers to implementing treatment.

The purpose of this study was to extend research regarding the perceptions smokers have of the advantages and disadvantages of using potential reduced exposure products (PREPs). Five focus groups with female current smokers were conducted in the Appalachian region of Ohio. The semistructured discussion guide was developed to capture information on reasons why women smoke, why and how they quit smoking, and reasons why women would switch to PREPs. The results suggest that these smokers did not express enthusiasm for using PREPs as an aid to smoking cessation or as a harm reduction product. In general, the concept of harm reduction in the sense of reducing disease risks did not engage the participants. Early in the discussion the women had identified some problems caused by their smoking and later PREPs were viewed as reducing these. The results suggest that PREPs may be attractive to some smokers because they offer benefits that other products lack.

A community-based cross-sectional study was undertaken in a rural community of West Bengal, India among 329 adult males, during April to June, 2004 to find out the prevalence, characteristics of smoking and attitude of smokers towards quitting. 29.8% (98), 61.7% (203) and 8.5% (28) were found to be current, never and former smokers respectively. Among current smokers, 79.4% had started smoking before the age of 24 years. 23% of smokers cited the reason for smoking was to concentrate at work and to relieve anger and frustration. 53.8% wanted to quit smoking but lack of willpower (28.2%) became the major hindrance to quitting. 58.9% were uncertain about continuing smoking. Smoking is commonly practised in rural area of West Bengal, starting at quite an early age; hence awareness and health education needs to be stressed, so that prevention can be initiated.

The prevalence of smoking is much higher among the poor, marginalised and disenfranchised. Those who are dependent on alcohol and other drugs, suffering mental illness, and Indigenous people are among the heaviest smokers and are least likely to quit. This article describes a smallscale evaluation of a smoking cessation program, which used tailored nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) aimed at these groups, between 2004 to 2006. A mixed methodology approach to data collection was employed. The quantitative data indicated that a low level of success was achieved by program participants. The qualitative data provided rich accounts of peoples' experiences in the program. These could be used to develop more effective programs that take a full account of the complex issues that shape participants' responses to smoking cessation and provide greater levels of sustained motivation. Several issues related to the conduct of rigorous evaluation studies in this context are highlighted.

Among many studies on cytisine only a few have been controlled trials, and the aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of cytisine in a randomized controlled double-blind trial compared to placebo in medium-dependent smoking men working in mining industry. Materials and methods: 171 middle-aged smokers were randomised to either cytisine (25-days regimen) or placebo; both groups received individual counseling with brochure. Self-reported continuous abstinence was assessed at 8 and 26 weeks. Results: At the end of week 8 there were no differences in number of abstinent subjects, but at 26 weeks 10.6% of subjects were abstinent in cytisine group compared to 1.2% in placebo (p = .01). In both groups, we did not find any weight increase, but quality of life improved in both groups, and physical and social functioning improved in cytisine group. Conclusions: Cytisine may be an effective medication to help smokers quit even for those working in difficult working conditions with high relapse rate.

Purpose: To report a case of an increase in Crohn's disease (CD) activity possibly caused by varenicline. Background: Smoking cigarettes has been shown to be an independent risk factor for the development of CD and is associated with a more aggressive disease course. Smoking cessation is therefore considered a primary adjunctive goal for such patients. Varenicline is a partial nicotinic agonist, which selectively binds to the α-4, β-2 receptor. This receptor is thought to play a large role in the additive properties of nicotine and the drug is approved in the United States for this purpose. Case results: A 62-year-old female with a 12-year history of stable, quiescent CD, presented to her physician with symptoms of severe nausea, frequent episodes of vomiting, abdominal cramping, and significant diarrhoea, all of which was thought to be her first exacerbation of CD in years. The patient had started varenicline 2 days prior to the initiation of symptoms and had continued worsening symptoms for the next 2 weeks during which she continued the drug. One week after discontinuing varenicline the symptoms abated completely. Due to its pharmacology as a nicotine partial agonist, varenicline was thought to have possibly caused an exacerbation of this patient's CD. Conclusion: A patient had a possible exacerbation of her CD triggered by varenicline used for smoking cessation. Because smoking cessation is imperative in CD patients, care should be used when starting varenicline for this purpose.