Self-Reported Quit Aids and Assistance Used By Smokers At Their Most Recent Quit Attempt: Findings from the 2020 International Tobacco Control Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey.

Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of the use of various smoking cessation aids and services in four high-income countries, namely Australia, Canada, England, and the US. The study is based on data from the International Tobacco Control Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey and focuses on current daily smokers and recent ex-smokers who made a quit attempt in the last 24 months. The summary will cover the study design, key points, and main message.

Key Points:

* The study analyzes the use of various smoking cessation aids and services, including nicotine vaping products (NVPs), nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), other pharmacological therapies (OPT), tobacco products, cessation services, and other types of support.
* The study found that slightly more than half of all smokers and ex-smokers reported using any type of pharmacotherapy (NRT or OPT) and/or an NVP. NRT and NVPs were the most common types of cessation aids used in all four countries.
* However, there were differences in the use of NRT and NVPs among the four countries. NRT was more commonly used in Australia relative to NVPs, and in England, NVPs were more commonly used than NRT. The use of NVPs and NRT was more evenly distributed in Canada and the US.
* Few smokers who attempted to quit utilized cessation services such as stop-smoking programs/counseling or quitlines, despite that these types of support are effective in helping smokers manage withdrawals and cravings.
* The study also found that most quit attempts are made unassisted, particularly without the use of government-approved cessation medications.

Main Message:
The main message of the text is that many smokers are still trying to quit unassisted, rather than utilizing cessation aids or other forms of assistance. Of those who did use assistance, NRT and NVPs were the most common method, which appears to suggest that nicotine substitution is important for smokers when trying to quit smoking. However, there is still a need for healthcare providers to ask their patients about smoking and offer them evidence-based treatment, as well as be prepared to provide smokers with a referral to trained cessation counselors, particularly when it comes to tailoring intensive treatment programs for regular daily smokers. Additionally, healthcare providers should be prepared to discuss the use of NVPs, particularly if smokers are seeking advice about NVPs, wanting to try/or already using an NVP to quit smoking, have failed repeatedly to quit with other cessation methods, and/or if they do not want to give up tobacco/nicotine use completely. Overall, the study highlights the importance of understanding the use of cessation aids and services in different countries and the need for effective communication between healthcare providers and smokers to increase smoking cessation rates.

Gravely S, Cummings KM, Hammond D, et al. Self-Reported Quit Aids and Assistance Used By Smokers At Their Most Recent Quit Attempt: Findings from the 2020 International Tobacco Control Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey. Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. 2021;23(10):1699-1707. doi:10.1093/ntr/ntab068