Reducing tobacco smoking among low-SES smokers: A RCT to improve compliance with treatment, smoking cessation and health economic outcomes
NDARC:
Dr Ryan Courtney
Prof Richard Mattick
Prof Anthony Shakeshaft
Prof Michael Farrell
Prof Ron Borland (Cancer Council Victoria)
NSW Government/ Cancer Institute NSW
Quitline
Department of Human Services
Recent National Drug Strategy Household Survey data show that persons from disadvantaged areas are three times more likely to smoke daily compared to those from most advantaged areas (20% vs. 7%).
Less change in smoking rates occurred for the most disadvantaged quintile between 2001 (26%) and 2013 (20%), than the large (close to three-fold) decrease for the most advantaged quintile over the same time period (19% and 7% respectively). These differences in smoking prevalence between the most and least advantaged Australians contributes to health inequalities.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) can improve the likelihood of successful cessation but low-SES smokers comply poorly and discontinue NRT use earlier than high-SES smokers.
Facilitating smoking cessation among low-SES smokers is a national priority. Yet, no evidence-based interventions to improve treatment compliance with NRT have been found.
This study will evaluate the cost-effectiveness of enhanced compliance instruction (via text message) as a strategy for increasing smoking cessation in low-SES smokers.