Abstract

Introduction—Nicotine dependence is a chronic disorder often characterized by multiple failed quit attempts (QAs). Yet, little is known about the sequence of methods used across multiple QAs or how this may impact future ability to abstain from smoking. This prospective cohort study examines the effectiveness of switching smoking-cessation medications (SCMs) across multiple QAs.

Methods—Adult smokers (aged ≥ 18 years) participating in International Tobacco Control surveys in the United Kingdom, U.S., Canada, and Australia (N=795) who: (1) completed two consecutive surveys between 2006 and 2011; (2) initiated a QA at least 1 month before each survey; and (3) provided data for the primary predictor (SCM use during most recent QA), outcome (1-month point prevalence abstinence), and relevant covariates. Analyses were conducted in 2016.

Results—Five SCM user classifications were identified: (1) non-users (43.5%); (2) early users (SCM used for initial, but not subsequent QA; 11.4%); (3) later users (SCM used for subsequent, but not initial QA; 18.4%); (4) repeaters (same SCM used for both QAs; 10.7%); and (5) switchers (different SCM used for each QA; 14.2%). Abstinence rates were lower for non-users (15.9%, OR=0.48, p=0.002), early users (16.6%, OR=0.27, p=0.03), and repeaters (12.4%, OR=0.36, p=0.004) relative to switchers (28.5%).

Conclusions—Findings suggest smokers will be more successful if they use a SCM in QAs and vary the SCM they use across time. That smokers can increase their odds of quitting by switching SCMs is an important message that could be communicated to smokers.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-2017

Notes/Citation Information

Published in American Journal of Preventive Medicine, v. 53, issue 2, p. e63-e70.

© 2017 Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

This manuscript version is made available under the CC‐BY‐NC‐ND 4.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.

The document available for download is the author's post-peer-review final draft of the article.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2017.01.038

Funding Information

Major funders of the International Tobacco Control Four Country Survey: U.S. National Cancer Institute (P50 CA111326, P01 CA138389, R01 CA100362, R01 CA125116), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (57897, 79551, and 115016), National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (265903, 450110, and 1005922), Cancer Research United Kingdom (C312/A3726, C312/A6465, and C312/A11039), Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (045734), and Canadian Tobacco Control Research Initiative (014578), with additional support from the Propel Centre for Population Health Impact, the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, and the Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute. BWH was supported by K12 DA031794 and K23 DA041616. JLB was supported by K07 CA181351. KMC has received grant funding from the Pfizer, Inc., to study the impact of a hospital-based tobacco-cessation intervention, and has received funding as an expert witness in litigation filed against the tobacco industry.

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