1 Who are smokers who use NRT for temporary abstinence ? Jean-François E T T E R, PhD Institute of social and preventive medicine University of Geneva Switzerland Slides: Stop-tabac.ch

2 Background zMore and more smoking restrictions (e.g. at work) zSeveral countries (including France) authorise simultaneous use of NRT and cigarettes for temporary abstinence zLittle is known about smokers who use NRT to deal with no-smoking situations

3 Methods z (in French) sent to 17'400 participants in the "Stop-tabac.ch" online smoking cessation program zParticipants were invited to answer: "A survey on use of NRT to deal with situations where one has to abstain temporarily from smoking (e.g. at work, during a meeting, in a plane)" zMay 2003

4 Participants z618 valid answers (4%) zWomen:66 % zAge: 38 years (median) zSmokers: 44 % Daily (n=271) 5 % Occasionally (not daily) (n=33) 50 % EX-smokers (n=310) zDomain names of participant's servers: xFrance (.fr): n=193 xSwitzerland (.ch): n=79 xBelgium (.be): n=44; xCanada (.ca):n=36

5 Did you ever use NRT to deal with situations where you have to abstain temporarily from smoking (e.g. at work, during a meeting, in a plane)?

6 Comparison of daily smokers who were using NRT to deal with no-smoking situations with daily smokers who were not

7

8

9 Which product do you use mainly, to deal with situations where you have to abstain temporarily from smoking? (n=30)

10 Duration (n=30 smokers who currently used NRT to deal with no-smoking situations) For how long have you been using NRT products to deal with no-smoking situations? zMedian = 6 months, quartiles = 21 days and 1 year zRange: 7 days to "more than 5 years"

11 Frequency of use (n=30 smokers who currently used NRT to deal with no-smoking situations) How frequently do you use NRT to deal with no-smoking situations? zon 6-7 days per week: 37 % zon 5 days per week: 10 % zon 1 to 4 days per week: 20 % zon 1 to 3 days per month: 17% zon <1 day per month:17%

12 Interval and number of gums (n=30 smokers who currently used NRT to deal with no-smoking situations ) Interval: zOccasionally (e.g. during a meeting):56% zRegular intervals throughout the day:40% During the days when you use them, how many nicotine gums do you use per day, to deal with situations where you have to abstain temporarily from smoking? Among 16 gum users: zMedian: 3 gums / day z25 th percentile: 1 gum z75 th percentile: 4 gums zRange:1 to 14 gums

13 Dosis and flavour (n=30 smokers who currently used NRT for temporary abstinence) Which dosis do you use, in situations where you have to abstain temporarily from smoking? Among 16 gum users: z2 mg gum:75% z4 mg gum:25% Flavour: Among 16 gum users: zNeutral (nicotine):63 % zMint:31% zFruit:6%

14 Situations (n=30 smokers who currently used NRT for temporary abstinence)

15 Conclusion 1: efficacy ? zLong duration of NRT use, but low dosage. zEffect of such low dosage of NRT ?

16 Conclusion 2: reach ? zFew smokers work in totally smoke-free workplaces zFew have to work for 2+ hours without smoking zDr recommend to avoid concomitant use NRT+ cig. z50% of users were currently trying to quit => did not use NRT only for TA zPotential reach or appeal of this strategy ?