Offering nicotine patches to all households in a community with high smoking rates: Pilot test of a population-based approach to promote tobacco cessation

John A Cunningham, Scott T Leatherdale, Michael Chaiton, Rachel F Tyndale, Christina Schell, Alexandra Godinho, John A Cunningham, Scott T Leatherdale, Michael Chaiton, Rachel F Tyndale, Christina Schell, Alexandra Godinho

Abstract

Background: The objective of this project is to determine the effectiveness of targeting a community with a high smoking rate with the distribution of free-of-charge nicotine patches in order to promote tobacco cessation.

Methods/design: One small community with an elevated smoking rate (compared to national and provincial averages) has been identified. All households in the community will be sent a letter offering one smoker (18 years or older; 10 or more cigarettes per day) in the household a free-of-charge mailed five-week supply of nicotine patches (up to a total of 800 five-week kits will be available for distribution). Participants receiving nicotine patches will be asked to complete a six-month follow-up survey assessing tobacco cessation defined as 30-day point prevalence abstinence. In addition, attempts will be made to employ ongoing national population surveys containing cigarette smoking variables to compare changes in smoking prevalence in the target community to other communities with similar characteristics.

Discussion: We will examine whether the concentrated distribution of mailed nicotine patches will result in a measurable reduction in smoking rates in the target community. If demonstrated, this would provide support for the targeted population-level distribution of an effective individual-level public health intervention.

Clinical trials registration: NCT04534231.

Keywords: NRT; mass distribution; nicotine patches; smoking; tobacco cessation.

References

    1. Statistics Canada. The Daily — Canadian Community Health Survey, 2014. 2015.
    1. Ministerial Advisory Council on Rural Health. Rural health in rural hands: Strategic directions for rural, remote, northern and aboriginal communities. Health Canada; 2002.
    1. Meng G, Brown KS, Thompson ME. Spatial and temporal patterns of smoking prevalence in Ontario. BMC Public Health. 2015;15:182.
    1. Stead LF, Perera R, Bullen C, Mant D, Hartmann-Boyce J, Cahill K, et al.. Nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews. 2012;11:CD000146.
    1. Hartmann-Boyce J, Chepkin SC, Ye WY, Bullen C, Lancaster T. Nicotine replacement therapy versus control for smoking cessation (Review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2018(5).
    1. Cummings KM, Fix B, Celestino P, Carlin-Menter S, O’Connor R, Hyland A. Reach, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of free nicotine medication giveaway programs. Journal of Public Health Management Practice. 2006;12(1):37–43.
    1. Miller N, Frieden TR, Liu SY, Matte TD, Mostashari F, Deitcher DR, et al.. Effectiveness of a large-scale distribution programme of free nicotine patches: a prospective evaluation. Lancet. 2005;365(9474):1849–54.
    1. Davis KA, Coady MH, Mbamalu IG, Sacks R, Kilgore EA. Lessons learned from the implementation of a time-limited, large-scale nicotine replacement therapy giveaway program in new york city. Health promotion practice. 2013;14(5):767–76.
    1. Selby P, Zawertailo L, Dragonetti R. The STOP (STOP Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients) Study. 6-month effectiveness of mass distribution of NRT in Ontario. 2006.
    1. Zawertailo L, Dragonetti R, Bondy SJ, Victor JC, Selby P. Reach and effectiveness of mailed nicotine replacement therapy for smokers: 6-month outcomes in a naturalistic exploratory study. Tob Control. 2013;22(3):e4.
    1. Cunningham JA, Kushnir V, Selby P, Tyndale R, Zawertailo L, Leatherdale S. Mailing nicotine patches to promote tobacco cessation among adult smokers: Primary outcomes of a randomized clinical trial. Jama Intern Med. 2016;176(2):184.
    1. Cunningham JA, Kushnir V. Effectiveness of mass distribution of nicotine patches to promote tobacco control in rural versus urban settings. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2017;71(5):519.
    1. Chen HN, Cohen P, Chen S. How Big is a Big Odds Ratio? Interpreting the Magnitudes of Odds Ratios in Epidemiological Studies. Communications in Statistics-Simulation and Computation. 2010;39(4):860–4.
    1. Statistics Canada. Canadian Community Health Survey, 2015/16. Ottawa2017.
    1. Toll BA, Rojewski AM, Duncan LR, Latimer-Cheung AE, Fucito LM, Boyer JL, et al.. “Quitting Smoking Will Benefit Your Health”: The Evolution of Clinician Messaging to Encourage Tobacco Cessation. Clin Cancer Res. 2014;20(2):301–9.
    1. Wong SL, Shields M, Leatherdale S, Malaison E, Hammond D. Assessment of validity of self-reported smoking status. Health Rep. 2012;23(1):47–53.
    1. Patrick DL, Cheadle A, Thompson DC, Diehr P, Koepsell T, Kinne S. The Validity of Self-Reported Smoking - a Review and Metaanalysis. Am J Public Health. 1994;84(7):1086–93.
    1. SRNT Subcommittee on Biochemical Verification. Biochemical verification of tobacco use and cessation. Nicotine & Tobacco Research. 2002;4(2):149–59.
    1. Heatherton TF, Kozlowski L, Frecker RC. The Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence: A revision of the Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire. Br J Addict. 1991;86:1119–27.
    1. Thun MJ, DeLancey JO, Center MM. The global burden of cancer: priorities for prevention Carcinogenesis. 2010:31(1): 100–110

Source: PubMed

Sponsorer og samarbeidspartnere

Medisinsk tilstand

Legemiddelintervensjoner

3
Abonnere