Emerging Statistics

Statistical Publication Notice

26th March 2007

NHS Smoking Cessation Service Statistics (Scotland) 1st January to 31st December 2006

SUMMARY

Introduction/Background

This is the first release of statistics from the national smoking cessation monitoring in Scotland, covering the 2006 calendar year, the first year for which data was available for all NHS boards in Scotland. Care should be taken, however, in making direct comparisons between boards. Differences in the types of services provided and in the services being included in the national monitoring, under-recording of data and at 1/3 month follow-up variations in the proportion of cases lost to follow-up/smoking status unknown all contribute to wide variations in findings across board areas.

Information is taken from the agreed national minimum dataset for smoking cessation services (developed by PATH, part of ASH Scotland), following consultation with services and others and is based on 'quit attempts' made during the year. The primary data source is the National Smoking Cessation Database, established by ISD Scotland in July 2005. ISD was also tasked to produce/report on the national monitoring statistics. Data is as at 1st March 2007.

Main findings:

46,466 quit attempts made/quit dates set during the calendar year (data on national database, as at 1st March 2007, combined with data supplied from local information systems).
Peak months for services were January to April.

An estimated 4.3% of smokers in Scotland made a quit attempt with an NHS smoking cessation service during 2006.
At 1 month post quit date - 34% not smoking; 34% still smoking; 32% lost to follow-up/unknown (based on client self-reported smoking status - 'Smoked, even a puff, in the last 2 weeks?').
At 3 months post quit date - 18% not smoking (based on client self-reported 'Smoked < 5 cigarettes since 1 month follow-up'). Note: denominator for %s remains total quit dates set/quit attempts made in the time period).
There was wide variation in findings across NHS boards, amongst the reasons for which included: differences in the types of services provided in different areas and, at 1/3 month follow-up, differences in the proportion of cases lost to follow-up/smoking status unknown.

Note: With the exception of Greater Glasgow, figures are based on total quit attempts, rather than total number of clients with a quit attempt, so could include repeat quit attempts for the same client.

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MAIN CONTACTS:

Linsey Galbraith

(Principal Information & Development Officer, ScotPHO)

0131 275 6227

Linsey.Galbraith@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk

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GLOSSARY:

PATH (Partnership Action on Tobacco and Health)
ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) Scotland

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PRE-RELEASE ACCESS TO THIS PUBLICATION WAS GIVEN TO:

Scottish Executive Tobacco Policy Branch & Analytical Services, ASH Scotland, NHS Health Scotland, NHS Board Chief Executives.