Publication Highlights

Cigarette smoking is responsible for more than 20,000 deaths in Australia each year. This study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific investigated long-term trends in Australian smokers’ quit attempt methods across 20 years. This study found that each year, more smokers attempted to quit than remained quit, with a stable trend over time. Socioeconomic disadvantage and mental health conditions were more likely among smokers, but there was no difference in quit attempts by these characteristics.

Further, the study found that unassisted quitting, was still the most prevalent method in 2017 (40%), but this has gradually declined from 61% in 1998. Conversely, asking a doctor for help or advice has increased from 18% in 1998 to 34% in 2017 and initially corresponded with the availability of subsidised prescription medicine in 2008, but maintained a rate of approximately one third of smokers ever since. In contrast, use of prescribed medication plateaued at around one fifth of smokers since 2012. At the time of study, promoting e-cigarettes as a cessation aid was not permitted in Australia, and therefore e-cigarettes were not included in the pre-coded quit attempt response options. The study did however conclude that it is important for clinicians and policy makers to continue to support quit attempts through a variety of options, tailored to smoker's needs.