the Benefits of Smoking Cessation Methods @ likely to use NRT to help them about the health effects of smoking quit smoking if they were shown cessation treatments such as nico- accurate safety information. “These findings represent a tine patches and other nicotine replacement therapies are common. tremendous public health Findings from a study, fielded in opportunity to save lives,” said partnership by GlaxoSmithKline Jane Allen, a researcher on the Consumer Healthcare (GSK) and study and senior research Legacy, and published in a recent associate at Legacy. “If we can issue of the journal Addictive better communicate with smokers Behaviors, indicates that smokers about the safety of NRT, we may are misinformed about the safety be able to increase NRT use and— andefficacy of nicotine replacement as a result—help to increase therapy (NRT). However, most successful, long-term quitting.” Many smokers need help to smokers reported an interest in learning more about NRT andsaid quit successfully. NRT products, they would be morelikely totry it if such as the Nicorette gum and they had evidence that it was safe lozenge and NicoDerm CQ patch, are recommended as first-line to use. “The data indicate a need to treatments for smoking addiction further inform smokers about the in the U.S. and can reliably methods that can effectively help increase long-term smoking them quit,” said Saul Shiffman, abstinence rates and double a Ph.D., professor in the depart- smoker’s chances of quitting over ments of psychology and pharma- using nothing to aid in their quit ceutical science at the University attempt. When used asdirected, of Pittsburgh and senior scientific these FDA-approved medications advisor at Pinney Associates, are proven safe and effective to which provides consulting services help smokers quit. to GlaxoSmithKline. “Of particuThe analysis, published in the lar note, 84 percent of respon- journal Addictive Behaviors, dents requested feedback on their included a survey of 900 men and incorrect answers in the survey, women adult smokers in the U.S., suggesting smokers want informaand was fielded in July 2007 by tion regarding quitting and are Richard Day Research through an interested in learning about the online panel, screening for adults safety and efficacy of cessation age 18 and over who smoked cigastrategies.” rettes every day. The data were Knowledge regarding the weighted to adjust for age, ethsafety and efficacy of NRT, as nicity and gender using estimates reported by survey respondents, from the 2006 National Health was commonly inaccurate. Specif- Interview Survey. The “average” ically, 93 percent of smokers did respondent in the survey was 43 not know that smoking while years of age, had been smoking for wearing the nicotine patch does an average of 16 years and smoked not cause heart attacks. In addi- 20 cigarettes per day. Only 16 pertion, 76 percent of smokers did cent of respondents had nevertried not know nicotine gum and to quit. For helpful information about lozenges are not as addictive as cigarettes. Further, 69 percent of quitting and to connect with other smokers did not know that NRT smokers interested in quitting, products are not as harmful as there are several online resources that can help: www.BecomeAn cigarettes. However, more than half of interested quitters who EX.org, www.LegacyforHealth. held these misperceptions org, www.Nicorette.com and reported they would be more www.facebook.com/Nicorette. (NAPSA)—Misperceptions Disclosure: GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare funded the underlying study that this manuscript is based on, and provided financial support to Dr. Ferguson, Mr. Gitchell, Dr. Shiffman, Mr. Sembower and Dr. Rohay for the preparation of the manuscript itself. Dr. Shiffman and Mr. Gitchell are consultants for GSK and work for GSK on an ongoing basis. The sponsor reviewed the manuscript, but had no role in its drafting. Dr. Shiffman and Mr. Gitchell also have an interest in a venture to develop a new nicotine replacement medication.
