Thoughts emerging from ITC project about cessation

assistance

Ron Borland PhD

Ron Borland PhD

Use of quit meds among those who made QA in last period

0%

5%10%

15%20%

25%

30%35%

40%

Pe

rce

nt

Quarter to one third of attempts use medsUse rare outside western countries, except Korea

Not asked

Help from quitline among those who made QA in last period

0%2%4%6%8%

10%12%14%

Perc

en

t

New Zealand has national line and offers subsidized NRT

Results Overall, 25% Chinese smokers reported having made at least one quit attempt between Waves 1 and 2. Compared to ITC-4 and ITC SEA countries, fewer smokers in China made quit attempts.

Inter Survey Interval: China=16 months, ITC-4 countries=8 months, MY & TH=18 months.

Sources: Hyland et al, 2006, Tob Control; Li et al, NTR, in press.

Reported quit attempt rate between Waves 1& 2

25%

36% 39%

71%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

China ITC-4 countries Malaysia Thailand

Perc

en

t

Change of quit attempt rates in Malaysia and Thailand

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

Wave 1 (12 months) Wave 2 (18 months)

Per

cen

t m

akin

g q

uit

att

emp

ts

Malaysia

Thailand

Note: Between the two surveys Thailand launched its first large-scale mass media anti-smoking campaign; while no campaign was introduced in Malaysia during this period.

Of those attempted in China, 21.7% were still stopped smoking at Wave 2, which is close to the maintenance rates in ITC-4 and ITC-SEA countries.

Maintenance rate among those who made a quit attempt between Waves 1 & 2

21%

26%24%

18%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

China ITC-4 countries Malaysia Thailand

Per

cen

t

Quit attempt – PredictorsMultivariate analyses showed that independent predictors of making quit attempts

in Chinese smokers included:• Higher quitting self-efficacy; • Previous quit attempts;• Having at least some intentions to quit; • Lower dependence (longer time to first cigarette);• Having very negative opinion of smoking;• Having smoking restrictions at home• *(health concerns not predictive in China)

Notes: Underlined factors differ to ITC SEA countries. In China, some city to city variability.

Quit success – Predictors

Independent predictors of maintenance among those who made attempts included:

• Older age;

• Having long previous abstinence from smoking (>6 months);

• Having more immediate quitting intentions (ie, planning to quit within 1 month);

• Having some health concerns about smoking (not strong concerns);

• (dependence, self-efficacy NOT predictive in China)

Notes: Underlined factors differ to ITC SEA countries. In China, some city to city variability.

Some thoughts

• The cessation population may change over time

• Assistance only reaches a minority

• Those who need it may not want it early on

• Role of specialist clinics???

• Roles for Quitlines

• Rx access patchy– Access for poor???

• Potential of internet

• Knowledgeable health professionals