ABSTRACT
Aims: To determine the effect of offering smokers who want to quit easy access to nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), a period of familiarisation, and choice of product, on smoking abstinence at six months.
Design: Single-blind, randomised controlled trial.
Setting: New Zealand.
Participants: 1,410 adult smokers who called the national Quitline for quitting support were randomised to usual Quitline care or a box containing different NRT products (patch, gum, inhaler, sublingual tablet, oral pouch) to try for a week prior to quitting, and then to choose one or two of these products for eight weeks use.
Measurements: The primary outcome was seven-day point prevalence smoking abstinence six months after quit day. Secondary outcomes included continuous abstinence, cigarette consumption, withdrawal, NRT choice and serious adverse events at one and three weeks and three and six months.
Findings: No differences in six-month quit rates (seven-day point prevalence or continuous abstinence) were observed between the groups. However, smokers allocated to the intervention group were more likely to have quit smoking at three months (self-reported point prevalence, RR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.02, 1.35, p = 0.03), had a longer time to relapse (median 70 days versus 28 days, p < 0.01) and used significantly more NRT. The selection box concept was highly acceptable to users, with the patch and inhaler combination the most popular choice (34%).
Conclusions: In terms of smoking abstinence at six months, offering smokers who want to quit free access to a wide range of NRT, including a one week period of familiarisation and choice of up to two products, appears no different to offering reduced cost and choice of NRT, with no familiarisation period.