TY - JOUR

T1 - Exploratory survey study of long-term users of nicotine replacement therapy in Danish consumers

AU - Borup, Gitte

AU - Lyngby Mikkelsen, Kim

AU - Tønnesen, Philip

AU - Christrup, Lona Louring

PY - 2015/1/19

Y1 - 2015/1/19

N2 - Background: Long-term use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) has been approved in several countries for smokerswho are unable or unwilling to quit smoking. However, information on basic characteristics, degree of nicotinedependence, health status and contentment with long-term use of NRT is scarce. The aim of this study was tocollect information on the characteristics of long-term NRT users, having used NRT for at least 12 months, reasonsfor, and contentment with, their continued use of NRT including reasons for wishing to quit or sustain use andan estimation of their degree of nicotine dependence.Method: Through advertisements in three national Danish newspapers, long-term NRT users were recruited toanswer a short questionnaire about basic characteristics, health status and satisfaction with using NRT. A modifiedversion of the Heaviness of Smoking Index (HSI) questionnaire was applied to estimate nicotine dependence. Linearregression was used to test association between time to first NRT and daily dosage of NRT.Results: A total of 92 respondents were included in the data analysis. A majority of 88% wished to quit NRT for thefollowing reasons: costs of NRT, being tired of feeling addicted and fear of adverse health effects. Scoring on themodified HSI scale was 22.0% low, 68.0% moderate and 9.3% high dependent. Of the respondents, 67.0% used NRTwithin the first 30 min after waking. A validation check found a significant linear association between the two items inthe modified HSI.Conclusion: A significant majority of users wished to quit NRT because of the cost of products, being tired of feelingaddicted and fear of adverse health consequences. The majority of these users were moderate to high nicotinedependent. The strong association found between time to first NRT and NRT dosages used per day gives reasonto believe the validity of the modified HSI. Further studies are required for confirmation. Better counselling oflong-term users on the benefits of using NRT compared to smoking should be provided, for those who are chronicallydependent, as well as support to stop long-term use of NRT if wanted.

AB - Background: Long-term use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) has been approved in several countries for smokerswho are unable or unwilling to quit smoking. However, information on basic characteristics, degree of nicotinedependence, health status and contentment with long-term use of NRT is scarce. The aim of this study was tocollect information on the characteristics of long-term NRT users, having used NRT for at least 12 months, reasonsfor, and contentment with, their continued use of NRT including reasons for wishing to quit or sustain use andan estimation of their degree of nicotine dependence.Method: Through advertisements in three national Danish newspapers, long-term NRT users were recruited toanswer a short questionnaire about basic characteristics, health status and satisfaction with using NRT. A modifiedversion of the Heaviness of Smoking Index (HSI) questionnaire was applied to estimate nicotine dependence. Linearregression was used to test association between time to first NRT and daily dosage of NRT.Results: A total of 92 respondents were included in the data analysis. A majority of 88% wished to quit NRT for thefollowing reasons: costs of NRT, being tired of feeling addicted and fear of adverse health effects. Scoring on themodified HSI scale was 22.0% low, 68.0% moderate and 9.3% high dependent. Of the respondents, 67.0% used NRTwithin the first 30 min after waking. A validation check found a significant linear association between the two items inthe modified HSI.Conclusion: A significant majority of users wished to quit NRT because of the cost of products, being tired of feelingaddicted and fear of adverse health consequences. The majority of these users were moderate to high nicotinedependent. The strong association found between time to first NRT and NRT dosages used per day gives reasonto believe the validity of the modified HSI. Further studies are required for confirmation. Better counselling oflong-term users on the benefits of using NRT compared to smoking should be provided, for those who are chronicallydependent, as well as support to stop long-term use of NRT if wanted.

KW - Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

U2 - 10.1186/1477-7517-12-2

DO - 10.1186/1477-7517-12-2

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 26239277

VL - 12

SP - 1

EP - 7

JO - Harm Reduction Journal

JF - Harm Reduction Journal

SN - 1477-7517

IS - 2

ER -