Trends in maternal use of snus and smoking tobacco in pregnancy. A register study in southern Norway.

BACKGROUND: The use of tobacco products including Swedish snus (moist snuff) in pregnancy may cause adverse health outcomes. While smoking prevalence has decreased among fertile women in Norway, snus use has increased during the last years. We investigated whether these trends were reflected also during pregnancy in a population of women in Southern Norway. METHODS: Data on smoking tobacco and snus use at three time points before and during pregnancy for 20,844 women were retrieved from the electronic birth record for the years 2012-2017. The results for the three-year period 2015-2017 were compared with a previously studied period 2012-2014. Prevalence and quit rates of tobacco use within groups of age, parity and education were reported. Within the same groups adjusted quit rates were analyzed using logistic regression. Mean birthweight and Apgar score of offspring were calculated for tobacco-users and non-users. RESULTS: There was an increase of snus use before pregnancy from the period 2012-2014 to the period 2015-2017 from 5.1% (CI; 4.6 to 5.5) to 8.4% (CI; 7.8 to 8.9). Despite this, the use of snus during pregnancy did not increase from the first to the second period, but stabilized at 2.8% (CI; 2.5 to 3.2) in first trimester and 2.0% (CI; 1.7 to 2.2) in third trimester. Cigarette smoking decreased significantly both before and during pregnancy. Snus use and smoking during pregnancy were associated with a reduction in average birthweight, but no significant effects on Apgar scores. Odds ratios for quitting both snus and smoking tobacco during pregnancy were higher for women aged 25-34 years, for the primiparas and for those with a high level of education. Pregnant women were more likely to have quit tobacco use in the last time period compared to the first. CONCLUSIONS: While smoking during pregnancy was decreasing, the use of snus remained constant, levelling off to around 3% in first trimester and 2% in third trimester. Approximately 25% of those that used snus, and 40% that smoked before pregnancy, continued use to the third trimester. This calls for a continuous watch on the use of snus and other nicotine products during pregnancy.

Improving the effectiveness of pharmacist-assisted tobacco cessation: a study of participant- and pharmacy-specific differences in quit rates.

BACKGROUND: The New Mexico Pharmaceutical Care Foundation provided a pharmacist-assisted tobacco cessation program from 2004 to 2010. In evaluating the program, discrepant 6-month quit rates were observed between pharmacies. OBJECTIVE: To identify participant- and pharmacy-specific factors associated with improved quit rates. METHODS: To supplement data regarding participant characteristics and quit rates, semistructured interviews of 7 participating pharmacists were conducted. Multivariate logistic regression quantified associations between successful abstinence at 6 months and participant characteristics and pharmacy-specific factors. RESULTS: Quit rates by pharmacy ranged from 1.1% to 59.4% (mean = 19.1%). There were 1235 participants enrolled at 7 pharmacies, and because of missing participant data, 883 were included in the quantitative analysis. Three pharmacy-specific characteristics distinguished 6-month success rates: number and duration of follow-ups and format of counseling sessions. Participants followed up at least 3 times were more likely to quit at 6 months than those contacted once or twice (odds ratio [OR] =4.9; 95% CI = 1.6-15.0). Compared with follow-ups of <15 minutes, longer durations of follow-ups were associated with higher success rates: 15 to 30 minutes, OR = 7.2, 95% CI = 3.7-14.3); >30 minutes, OR = 10.0, 95% CI = 3.5-28.9. Participants who attended group sessions were more likely to quit at 6 months than those who attended individual sessions: OR = 8.2; 95% CI = 2.8-23.9. Most pharmacists (88%) noted that participants' high or low commitment to quit was associated with success or failure, respectively. Several pharmacists (43%) noted difficulties with follow-up associated with participants' relapse. Time constraints were an obstacle noted by 70% of pharmacists. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacy-specific factors, including counseling format and program intensity, affected success.

A narrative systematic review of tobacco cessation interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa.

AIM: In the face of increasing tobacco consumption in Sub-Saharan Africa, it is crucial to not only curb the uptake of tobacco, but to ensure that tobacco users quit. Considering the minimal attention that tobacco cessation interventions receive in Sub-Saharan Africa, this review aims to describe studies that evaluated tobacco cessation interventions in the region. METHODS: A search of studies published till December 2019 that evaluated tobacco cessation interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa and examined tobacco quit rates was conducted in PubMed-Medline, Web of Science and Scopus. Study designs were not limited to randomised control trials but needed to include a control group. RESULTS: Of the 454 titles and abstracts reviewed, eight studies, all conducted in South Africa, were included. The earliest publication was from 1988 and the most recent from 2019. Five studies were randomised control trials, two were quasi-experimental and one was a case-control study. Populations studied included community-based smokers (four studies) and university students, while the relevant clinic-based studies were conducted in pregnant women, tuberculosis patients and HIV-infected patients. Sample sizes were 23 in the case-control study, 87-561 in randomised control trials, and 979 (pregnant women) and 4090 (three rural communities) in the quasi-experimental studies. Four studies included nicotine replacement therapy in the interventions while four utilised only psychotherapy without adjunct pharmacotherapy. Quit rates were evaluated by exhaled carbon monoxide levels (five studies), blood carbon monoxide, urinary cotinine levels and self-reported quit rates. Four studies (two each with and without pharmacotherapy) reported significantly better outcomes in the intervention versus the control groups while one study findings (without pharmacotherapy) were significant in women but not men. CONCLUSION: This review highlights that scant attention has been paid to tobacco cessation intervention in Sub-Saharan Africa. The heterogeneity of these studies precluded comparisons across interventions or populations. There is a need for evidence-based low-cost tobacco cessation intervention that target high-risk population in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Effective Tobacco Cessation via Health Coaching: An Institutional Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco abuse is a well-recognized scourge on health and healthcare costs. Attempts to facilitate tobacco cessation are rarely better than marginally effective. PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To describe an observational trial of an existing and highly successful tobacco cessation program featuring health coaching as the primary intervention. Core components of program design and data are presented and may serve as a model for other public health settings. METHODS: Health coaching and three complementary program components (auriculotherapy, alpha-electrical stimulation, and relaxation techniques) are presented. Quit rates at 6 months for 161 patients over 3 years are provided featuring 30-day point prevalence smoke free and intent-to-treat values. Comparisons for telephonic vs in-clinic health coaching, free choice vs mandated participation, and program costs are provided. RESULTS: Point prevalence quit rate was 88.7% while the more conservative intent-to-treat quit rate was 51.6%. Telephonic and in-clinic health coaching were not significantly different at any time point. Smoke-free rates at 6 and 12 months were 76.9% and 63.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Two cost-effective smoking cessation models featuring health coaching are presented. Point prevalence (30-day) above 80% and an enduring effect was seen. Personal and societal burdens (health and financial) of tobacco use might be greatly impacted if such programs were successfully implemented on a larger scale.

Tobacco Quit Rates among Youth in an Urban Health Centre of Mumbai: A Cross Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco use is a major cause of preventable death and disease in India.A nationally representative case-control study of smoking in India(2008) revealed that only 2% of smokers had spontaneously quit. Thisstudy was undertaken to assess tobacco quit rates among the youth in anurban health center and to determine barriers in quitting tobacco use. METHODS: This cross sectional study was conducted among the youth attendingMalwani Urban Health Centre. Hundred-thirty-three subjects wereselected by a universal sampling method. Data was collected using asemi structured questionnaire. FINDINGS: The majority of the youth were in the 18 to 21-year-old age group (43%),Male (82.4%), Muslim (65.4%) and unmarried (57.1%). The tobacco quitrate among these cases was 8.3%. Quitting tobacco use was significantlyassociated with the person's religion, marital status and living with the family. CONCLUSION: Fear of cancer was the most common reason for quitting tobacco. Themajor reason for initiation of tobacco consumption was peer pressureand betel quid was the most common form. Not experiencing anyharmful effects of tobacco was the most common reason for notquitting tobacco.