Targeting Mailed Nicotine Patch Distribution Interventions to Rural Regions of Canada

Overview

This study will examine the impact of mailed distribution of free Nicotine Replacement Therapy to smokers in rural regions. Telephone numbers will be randomly selected from across Canada in order to recruit adult smokers interested in completing a smoking survey and willing to be interviewed again in 6 months time. Study participants will be asked about their smoking history and a hypothetical question: would they be interested in receiving the nicotine patches if this were to be provided to them free of charge? Participants expressing interest will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will be offered the opportunity to actually receive a program of 5 weeks of the nicotine patch for free right away and the other group will not be offered the free nicotine patches. The proportions of smokers in the two groups who quit smoking by the 6-month interview will be compared. Characteristics of the participants and the municipalities in which they live will be used to explain why the nicotine patch intervention has a larger impact in some rural regions compared to others This projects seeks to determine the impact of mailed NRT intervention on increasing quit rates in rural areas. In addition, it seeks to understand the social determinants of health driving the large effects expected based on previous findings.

Quitting smoking is the most effective way of reducing the risk of cancer. One way of helping people stop smoking is to provide them with free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT; e.g., nicotine patch), such as when NRT is sent to people by postal mail as part of a mass distribution initiative. Our previous research indicated that the impact of the mailed NRT intervention on increasing quit rates in rural areas may be substantial. The current research project seeks to confirm this finding and to understand the social determinants of health driving these anticipated large effects. This information is essential in order to target limited health resources to regions that are most in need, and who are likely to experience the greatest benefit. A two-stage recruitment process will be employed, in the context of a general population survey with a 6-month follow-up. Random digit dialling of telephone numbers from rural regions of Canada will identify households with adult (age 18 or over) smokers who smoke 10 or more cigarettes a day and who are willing to take part in a smoking study that involves two interviews. Residence of participants in rural regions will be confirmed by postal code matching. As part of the baseline survey, eligible subjects will be identified for the second recruitment - randomization of smokers into experimental and control conditions to be offered versus not offered Nicotine Patches. A randomized half of the eligible participants will be assigned to the experimental condition and asked for their permission to have Nicotine Patches sent to their home. The 6-month follow-up survey will be conducted 6-months after the baseline survey. The primary hypothesis is that participants receiving the NRT package will display significantly greater quit rates (30 day abstinence) at 6-month follow-up as compared to those not offered the NRT package.