Socioeconomically disadvantaged groups are more likely to smoke than other sectors of the community. This difference has been attributed, in part, to increased rates of relapse. Relapse is strongly and consistently predicted by financial stress. This project attempts to reduce relapse by reducing financial stress among disadvantaged smokers through the provision of financial counselling as an adjunct to Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT).
Dr Kristy Matire
School of Psychology, UNSW
Dr Billie Bonevski
University of Newcastle
Professor Ron Borland
The Cancer Council Victoria
Professor Christopher Doran
University of Newcastle
Professor Wayne Hall
University of Queensland
Increasingly, Australian smokers represent the socially marginalised and economically disadvantaged sector of our community. They also are a group of people with an increased likelihood of experiencing financial stress. Our knowledge-base regarding the efficacy of various interventions for low socio-economic (SES) smokers is scant. Reducing smoking rates among this population groups requires the development and implementation of rigorous intervention studies. The current research aims to investigate a novel intervention for smoking cessation - financial counselling as an adjunct to nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) with Quitline call-back – assessing its effectiveness as a public health intervention when compared with NRT and Quitline call-back alone. This investigation will provide insight into whether or not financial counselling is effective, is perceived by participants as a viable intervention approach, and whether its effectiveness is determined by the financial stressors experienced by participants.
Socioeconomically disadvantaged groups are more likely to smoke than other sectors of the community. This difference has been attributed, in part, to increased rates of relapse. Relapse is strongly and consistently predicted by financial stress. This project attempts to reduce relapse by reducing financial stress among disadvantaged smokers through the provision of financial counselling as an adjunct to Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT).
We will conduct a randomised controlled trial comparing cessation rates between low SES smokers who receive the standard intervention comprising NRT with a Quitline call-back with those who receive NRT and Quitline call-back plus financial counselling. Smoking outcomes will be assessed at 2 and 8 months post-intervention.
November 2015: To date, the following project milestones in accordance with projected timelines have been met:
Recruitment
N = 1047 smokers successfully recruited from three recruitment streams:
(i) poster presentations in Centrelink Customer Service Centres Nationally;
(ii) referrals from Quitline services nationally; and
(iii) newspaper advertisements (completed September, 2014);
Follow-up interviews
2-month follow-up interviews have been completed (December, 2014) with > 90% retention rate achieved. Final follow-up interviews have finished with an 84% retention rate achieved.
Data analysis and write-up in peer reviewed journals
Completion expected by late 2015. Several manuscripts are currently published, in-preparation or under editorial review.
The results from this project will provide valuable information on the efficacy of targeted interventions for socioeconomically disadvantaged smokers.