EFFECTIVENESS Matters NHS CENTRE FOR REVIEWS AND DISSEMINATION

Effectiveness Matters is an update on the effectiveness of health interventions for practitioners and decision makers in the NHS. It is produced by researchers at the NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination at the University of York, based on high quality systematic reviews of the research evidence. Effectiveness Matters is extensively peer reviewed by subject area experts and practitioners. The NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination is funded by the NHS Executive and the Health Departments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; a contribution to the Centre is also made by the University of York. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS Executive or the Health Departments of Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.Vol 3, Issue 1, March 1998 ■ In 1995 tobacco was responsible for 120,000 deaths of people over 35 years of age in the UK and rates of tobacco use are increasing, particularly in young people. ■ Research evidence shows that there are highly cost-effective ways to help people stop smoking. ■ Health professional advice about quitting can achieve cessation rates of 2%. This quit rate can be increased to around 12 % in motivated patients by adding nicotine replacement therapy. ■ Health professionals should systematically identify patients who smoke and encourage and support them to stop. ■ The use of nicotine replacement therapy should be encouraged in those smokers who are motivated to quit. ■ Health professionals should encourage and help pregnant women to stop smoking. ■ Some health professionals would benefit from training in smoking cessation techniques. ■ Health authorities and other health service commissioners should develop co-ordinated smoking cessation strategies and fund their implementation