ABSTRACT
Smoking tobacco is associated with lung cancer and other life-threatening diseases which requires serious action to curb it. Tobacco cessation interventions are available as pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods or a combination of both. The present review examines the effectiveness of the existing non-pharmacological tobacco cessation interventions and synthesizes the result for the future development of drug-free treatment in the community for tobacco cessation. The literature search was conducted in August 2020, using two electronic databases (PubMed and JSTOR), with search terms: ['tobacco cessation' OR 'smoking cessation'] AND ['intervention'] which included studies published during 2010 and 2020 (till 31st July 2020). All studies were limited to English language, human participants and excluded patients with comorbidities. A total of 2,114 publications were retrieved out of which 11 articles were reviewed. On the basis of intervention used in reviewed studies, we categorized them into seven categories: i. incentive-based intervention, ii. exercise based, iii. telephone-based proactive counselling, iv. mobile phone SMS (Short Message Service) based, v. smartphone app (application) based, vi. web-based intervention, vii. self-help material. Incentives were provided in most of the studies to maintain the retention rate and motivate the participants for completing follow-up. Non-pharmacological interventions for tobacco cessation include a combination of various elements. Our findings suggest that behavioural counselling is one of the most important elements of any non-pharmacological intervention. In addition to behaviour counselling, yoga and exercises along with self-help material, video and phone counselling may have higher efficacy. Thus, practicing non-pharmacological interventions may also increase the cessation rate and reduce the tobacco use burden.
Subject(s)
Nicotiana , Smoking Cessation , Humans , Smoking Cessation/methods , Counseling/methods , Smoking , MotivationABSTRACT
On 1 September 2018, 2 year later the launch of National Tobacco Quitline Services (NTQLS), new health warnings on tobacco products packets consisting of NTQLS toll-free number came into effect in India. The present study aimed to measure the effects of printing tobacco Quitline number on tobacco packets on calls to NTQLS. All calls to the NTQLS were monitored over 1 year, six months before and after the tobacco Quitline number on tobacco packets came to effect. Call details such as tobacco user's demographic profile, tobacco use habit, follow-up and quitting status also extracted through Call Detail Record (CDR) files from the server of NTQLS for the purpose of this study. Calls hit on IVR (Interacted Voice Response) increased by 7.7 times, on an average 6064 calls daily hit on NTQLS's IVR after the new health warning consisting of toll-free number on tobacco packets came into effect. Tobacco user registration increased by 3.3 times (18039 vs 5469). Overall, 264.5% (4790) relative increment in tobacco quitters, as it were only 1314 quitters six months before the new health warning. 100% callers cited tobacco packets as the primary source of tobacco Quitline toll-free number. The helpline number of Quitline on tobacco packet showed a strong potential to aware the public about the tobacco Quitline. This has increased the number of callers calling to National Tobacco Quitline Services and registrations for tobacco cessation. Sharp increase in calls during the first three months of new health warning and latter diminishing rate of calls is the concern for further study.
Subject(s)
Smoking Cessation , Tobacco Products , Hotlines , Humans , Nicotiana , Tobacco Use/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Quitlines are effective, evidence-based tobacco cessation interventions that help tobacco users quit through a variety of services. The present study was done to evaluate the cost effectiveness of the National Tobacco Quitline Service (NTQLS). We calculated twoyear program use and costs for establishment, salary of the staff, media promotions, intervention services, Quitline registration calls and the number of quitters since inception of NTQLS in the year 2016, we examined whether NTQLS is cost-effective or not. Out of 63,350 callers, 9420 (97.9% males) callers with the mean ±SD age at 37.5±12.6 years; were registered for tobacco cessation counselling services at the National Tobacco Quitline Services (NTQLS) between 30th May 2016 and 31st May 2018. 3012 (32%) quitted their tobacco use till the last proactive calls. Average cost per completed counselling was 22.37 US$. Our study concludes that Tobacco Quitline as a tobacco control intervention is an excellent investment and cost-effective measure in India. Average cost per quitter at 69.96 US$ is comparatively very low to other country's Quitline, representing the ideal utilization of funds.
