Article Text

Download PDFPDF
Impact of self-reported lifetime depression or anxiety on effectiveness of mass distribution of nicotine patches
  1. Vladyslav Kushnir1,2,
  2. Beth A Sproule1,2,
  3. Laurie Zawertailo1,3,
  4. Peter Selby1,4,5,6,
  5. Rachel F Tyndale1,3,4,7,
  6. Scott T Leatherdale8,
  7. John A Cunningham1,4,9
  1. 1 Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  2. 2 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  3. 3 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  4. 4 Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  5. 5 Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  6. 6 Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  7. 7 Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  8. 8 School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
  9. 9 National Institute for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
  1. Correspondence to Vladyslav Kushnir, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 2S1; vlad.kushnir{at}camh.ca

Abstract

Background Large-scale public health initiatives providing free nicotine replacement therapy have been shown to increase smoking cessation rates; however, their effectiveness among the highly prevalent population of smokers with depression and anxiety disorders has not been explored. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of lifetime history of depression or anxiety on smoking cessation success following the free distribution of nicotine patches.

Method In the context of a randomised controlled trial, a secondary analysis was conducted on 1000 adult regular smokers randomised to be mailed a 5-week supply of nicotine patches or to a no intervention control group. Participants were divided into subgroups based on the presence of self-reported lifetime diagnosis of depression and anxiety.

Results Irrespective of self-reported lifetime history of depression or anxiety, odds of self-reported cessation at 6 months were significantly greater among groups receiving nicotine patches compared to no intervention control (no history of depression or anxiety: OR 2.20; 95% CI 1.05 to 4.63; history of depression or anxiety present: OR 3.90; 95% CI 1.28 to 11.88). Among nicotine patch recipients only, quit outcomes did not differ between those with and without self-reported lifetime depression or anxiety in models unadjusted and adjusted for differences in demographic and smoking characteristics.

Conclusions The mass distribution of free nicotine patches (without behavioural support) is effective among smokers with or without lifetime history of depression or anxiety alike, providing further support for the adoption of similar initiatives as a means of promoting tobacco cessation on a population level.

Trial registration number NCT01429129, Post-results.

  • Cessation
  • Priority/special populations
  • Health Services

Statistics from Altmetric.com

Request Permissions

If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.