Smoking Cessation

Page last updated: 27-JUL-2010

Smoking Cessation

Statistical Publication Notice

26 May 2009

NHS Smoking Cessation Service Statistics (Scotland) 1st January to 31st December 2008

INTRODUCTION

This is the third annual release of statistics from the national smoking cessation monitoring in Scotland, covering the 2008 calendar year. 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 report on the national monitoring statistics. Data is as at 1st April 2009.
 
Care should be taken in making direct comparisons between NHS board areas. Differences in the types of services provided and in the proportion of cases 'lost to follow-up'/smoking status unknown contribute to wide variations in findings across board areas.
 

KEY POINTS

  • There were 50,121 quit attempts made during the 2008 calendar year. This compares with 44,019 in 2007 (revised 2007 figures), an increase of 6,102 or 14%.
  • An estimated 4.8% of smokers in Scotland made a quit attempt with an NHS smoking cessation service during 2008 (4.2% in 2007). Pharmacy services accounted for 44% of quit attempts made.
  • One month after the quit date, 38% had quit (self-reported 'not smoked, even a puff, in the last two weeks'), 33% were still smoking and 29% were 'lost to follow-up'/unknown.
  • Based on data for the 2007 calendar year, quit rates at one, three and 12 months were 38%, 19% and 8% respectively.

INTERPRETATION

Note: 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.
 
The data presented in the report are based on 'quit attempts' made/quit dates set during the year. This will not include referrals or initial contacts where the client did not go on to set a quit date, or 'relapse prevention' support. The information in the report represents, therefore, only a proportion of the work of NHS smoking cessation services.
 
Percentage quit rates at one, three and 12 months after quit date are based on a denominator of all quit dates set/quit attempts made during the time period. Note: the cumulative percentages of cases 'lost to follow-up'/smoking status unknown at one, three and 12 months (based on data for the 2007 calendar year) were 28%, 41% and 44% respectively.

DETAILED FINDINGS

  • There were 50,121 quit attempts made during the 2008 calendar year. This compares with 44,019 quit attempts in 2007 (revised 2007 figures), an increase of 6,102 or 14%.
  • An estimated 4.8% of smokers in Scotland made a quit attempt with an NHS smoking cessation service during 2008 (4.2% in 2007).
  • One month after the quit date, 38% had quit (based on self-reported 'not smoked, even a puff, in the last two weeks'), 33% were still smoking and 29% were 'lost to follow-up'/unknown. The highest percentage quit rates for NHS boards were: 50% in Shetland, 52% in Forth Valley and 58% in Western Isles.
  • Calculating the one month success rate as a percentage of total estimated smokers in the population, the best performing boards were Highland, Lanarkshire and Borders achieving one month quits for an estimated 2.4%, 2.6% and 2.9% of their respective smoking populations (Scotland 1.8%).
  • Three months after the quit date the percentage quit rate was 18% (based on client self-reported 'smoked up to five cigarettes since one month follow-up').
  • Based on data for the 2007 calendar year, quit rates at one, three and 12 months were 38%, 19% and 8% respectively. Note: denominator for percentages remains total quit attempts made in the year.
  • Pharmacy services accounted for an estimated 44% of quit attempts made in Scotland in 2008 and over 70% of quit attempts made in some NHS board areas.
  • The one month self-reported quit rate for pharmacy services was 25%, compared with 48% for non-pharmacy services.
  • Women were more likely than men to make a quit attempt with an NHS smoking cessation service. The older age groups were also more likely to attempt to quit. The largest number of quit attempts were made by people living in the 'most deprived' areas in Scotland. Further client profile analyses are included in the report.


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MAIN CONTACTS:

Linsey Galbraith
Principal Information & Development Officer
ISD ScotPHO team
0131 275 6227 or mobile 07767 322170
Linsey.Galbraith@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk

Dr Diane Stockton
ISD ScotPHO lead
ISD ScotPHO team
0131 275 6817
diane.stockton@nhs.net

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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

Under terms of the 'Pre-Release Access to Official Statistics (Scotland) Order 2008', ISD are obliged to publish information on those receiving Pre-Release Access ('Pre-Release Access' refers to statistics in their final form prior to publication). The standard maximum Pre-Release Access is five working days. Shown below are details of those receiving standard Pre-Release Access and, separately, those receiving extended Pre-Release Access.
 
Standard (five day) Pre-Release Access:
Scottish Government Health Department (Analytical Services Division)
NHS Board Chief Executives
NHS Board Communication leads
 
Extended Pre-Release Access:
Scottish Government Health Department (Analytical Services Division)
This extended Pre-Release Access is given to a small number of named individuals in the Scottish Government Health Department (Analytical Services Division). This Pre-Release Access is for the sole purpose of enabling that department to gain an understanding of the statistics prior to briefing others in Scottish Government (during the period of standard Pre-Release Access).
 
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HISTORY OF THIS PUBLICATION:

Last Published: March 2008
Next Due: May 2010
Data Available Since: March 2007.


Main contact: Email Linsey Galbraith