Article

Former Smokers Motivate Quitters

CDC campaign uses peer-to-peer influence to increase quit rates among smokers.


 

In 2012, the CDC launched the “Tips from Former Smokers” campaign. It was memorable and emotionally forceful—one woman who had oral and throat cancer delivered her ad through an artificial voicebox—but did it have an impact on actual quitting rates?

No study had been done to assess the campaign’s combined, multiyear impact until CDC researchers looked at sustained (6 month) cigarette abstinence during the first 4 years of the campaign (2012-2015).

They found that the Tips campaign led to about 9.15 million total quit attempts. Based on an assumed 5.7% abstinence rate for people attempting to quit, this amounts to approximately 522,000 sustained quits.

The researchers say their findings indicate that the comprehensive approach combining evidence-based messages with the promotion of cessation resources was highly successful. Their finding of more than half-million sustained quits underscores the critical role of national tobacco education campaigns as a “counterpoint” to the substantial pro-tobacco advertising and promotion.

Recommended Reading

Hematology and Oncology Federal Health Data Trends (FULL)
Federal Practitioner
Positivity Rates in Oropharyngeal and Nonoropharyngeal Head and Neck Cancer in the VA
Federal Practitioner
ACS: Screen for colon cancer at 45
Federal Practitioner
Advances in Hematology and Oncology (May 2018)
Federal Practitioner
Predicting Platinum Efficacy
Federal Practitioner
New Guidelines for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer: What You Need to Know
Federal Practitioner
Testicular Pain Leads to a Rare Diagnosis
Federal Practitioner
Are We Beating Cancer—Finally?
Federal Practitioner
Could High BMI Reduce Premenopausal Breast Cancer Risk?
Federal Practitioner
Federal Health Care Data Trends: Oncology
Federal Practitioner