Comparisons between Japan, China and South Korea in the status of smoking cessation and quit assistance
| Japan | China | South Korea | Definition and notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | Women | Men | Women | Men | Women | ||
| Planning or thinking about quitting, % | 13.9 | 17.3 | 16.0 | 19.5 | 13.2 | 11.7 | J: Current smokers who are planning or thinking about quitting smoking within 1 year (2010) C: Current smokers who are planning or thinking about quitting smoking within 1 year (2010) K: Current smokers who are planning or thinking about quitting smoking within 6 months (2010) |
| Quit attempt rate, % | 20.5 | 34.4 | 35.9 | 46.4 | 53.4 | 63.3 | J: Smokers who tried to quit during the past year (2010)* C: Smokers who tried to quit during the past year (2010)* K: Smokers who made a quit attempt for 1 day or longer during the past year (2010)* |
| Quit attempt without assistance, % | 77.3 | 77.3 | 91.8 | 91.1 | 89.5 | 94.6 | J: Smokers who used pharmacotherapy, counselling/advice, or other cessation methods among those who made a quit attempt during the past year (2010)* C: Smokers who used pharmacotherapy, counselling/advice, or other cessation methods among those who made a quit attempt during the past year (2010)* K: Smokers who made a quit attempt with no assistance (by him/herself) among those who made a quit attempt during the past year (2010) |
| Use of cessation support drugs, % | 13.6 | 13.6 | 3.0 | 5.4 | 4.5 | 5.4 | J: Smokers who used nicotine replacement therapy during their last quit attempt among those who made a quit attempt during the past year (2010)* C: Smokers who used pharmacotherapy among those who attempted to quit smoking in the past year (2010) K: Smokers who used nicotine replacement therapy during their quit attempt (2010) |
| Available cessation therapy or drugs, % | OTC: nicotine gum and patch Rx: nicotine patch and varenicline, both covered by health insurance under several conditions | OTC: nicotine gum, patch, and troche Rx: bupropion and varenicline | OTC: nicotine gum and patch Rx: free nicotine replacement therapy is available in 256 public health centres under the nationwide cessation services managed by the national government. Varenicline and bupropion are available with payment | ||||
*The definition of smokers was ‘current smokers and those who quit in past 12 months’.
OTC, over the counter; Rx, prescription.