Survey on the Usefulness of the National Health Committee 2002 Smoking Cessation Guidelines

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Survey on the Usefulness of the National Health Committee 2002 Smoking Cessation Guidelines

Date of publication: June 2005

Summary
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Summary
This report contains the results of a New Zealand survey to assess the usefulness of the 2002 NHC Guidelines for Smoking Cessation. The survey was undertaken to inform the scheduled 2005 revision of the Guideline.

This report is the result of 10 in-depth interviews conducted with key informants and a postal and web-based survey administered to health workers working in the area of smoking cessation. A 42 percent response rate resulted in 149 completed questionnaires.

The survey found the Guideline is deemed useful by a large number of those surveyed although it was also considered in need of updating.

The majority – 65 percent of respondents – wanted to retain the hard-copy booklet and 34 percent wanted a shorter reminder card. Twenty-two percent preferred a web-based Guideline.

It was found the Guideline was most commonly accessed at training workshops and most respondents – 74 percent - used it for reference only while 60 percent used it when talking with clients. Fifty-four percent of respondents used the Guideline only ‘when unsure of something’.

There were few sections of the Guideline that respondents felt were not useful. But further comments strongly recommended updating the information and having clearer recommendations for the use of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and combination therapies.

There was also overwhelming support for the inclusion of a section on the effectiveness of alternative therapies.

The report outlines ten recommendations from the New Zealand Guidelines Group on updating the Guideline. These are:

A literature review of the evidence relating to the efficacy of alternative therapies.
An understanding of how to assist those who are under 18 years of age.
Review of the policy of not prescribing NRT to under- 18-year-olds or those who smoke less than ten cigarettes a day.
Clear guidelines on NRT use during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
A literature review of new evidence on the role of antidepressants in smoking cessation.
Clear guidance on the use of combination therapies.
That the entire document is reviewed for accuracy, eg, Quit for our Kids is no longer a national initiative.
Emphasis placed on the necessity for individualising treatment.
Retention of the hard-copy book.
Development of a simplified handout sheet for consumers.

The report concludes that the study gives a clear mandate for providing the resources for revision of the Guideline which is being undertaken by the Ministry of Health.

Publication availability
This publication is available in PDF format below:

Survey on the Usefulness of the National Health Committee 2002 Smoking Cessation Guidelines (PDF, 419 KB)

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