Publications (8) View all
-
Article: The impact of media campaigns on smoking cessation activity: a structural vector autoregression analysis.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: To evaluate the effect of tobacco control media campaigns and pharmaceutical company-funded advertising for nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) on smoking cessation activity. Multiple time series analysis using structural vector autoregression, January 2002-May 2010. England and Wales. Tobacco control campaign data from the Central Office of Information; commercial NRT campaign data; data on calls to the National Health Service (NHS) stop smoking helpline from the Department of Health; point-of-sale data on over-the-counter (OTC) sales of NRT; and prescribing data from The Health Improvement Network (THIN), a database of UK primary care records. Monthly calls to the NHS stop smoking helpline and monthly rates of OTC sales and prescribing of NRT. A 1% increase in tobacco control television ratings (TVRs), a standard measure of advertising exposure, was associated with a statistically significant 0.085% increase in calls in the same month (P = 0.007), and no statistically significant effect in subsequent months. Tobacco control TVRs were not associated with OTC NRT sales or prescribed NRT. NRT advertising TVRs had a significant effect on NRT sales which became non-significant in the seasonally adjusted model, and no significant effect on prescribing or calls. Tobacco control campaigns appear to be more effective at triggering quitting behaviour than pharmaceutical company NRT campaigns. Any effect of such campaigns on quitting behaviour seems to be restricted to the month of the campaign, suggesting that such campaigns need to be sustained over time.Addiction 05/2012; 107(11):2043-50. · 4.31 Impact Factor -
Article: Prescribing of nicotine replacement therapy to cardiovascular disease patients in England.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: In November 2005 the indications for nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) were broadened in the United Kingdom, making all forms available to patients with stable cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study aimed to estimate the effects of this change on prescribing of NRT to CVD patients in England. Segmented regression analysis of time series of monthly rates of prescribing of NRT. A total of 350 general practices in England included in The Health Improvement Network (THIN), a database of UK electronic primary care records. All adult patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) or stroke registered with a THIN practice in England. The number of patients per 100,000 with CHD and stroke that received a prescription for NRT each month between January 2002 and June 2009. Approximately 1500 per 100,000 smokers with CVD were prescribed NRT per month. Prescribing of NRT to CHD and stroke patients increased until the end of 2005 and subsequently decreased, with no immediate change following the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority (MHRA) licensing change. Broadening the marketing licence in the United Kingdom for nicotine replacement therapy to allow it to be prescribed to patients with CVD did not increase prescribing rates for this group of patients.Addiction 01/2012; 107(7):1341-8. · 4.31 Impact Factor -
Article: RESPONSE TO KOTZ ET AL. (2011): ESTIMATING THE RATE OF USAGE OF VARENICLINE AND OTHER MEDICATION FOR SMOKING CESSATION.
Addiction 07/2011; · 4.31 Impact Factor -
Article: Prescribing of nicotine replacement therapy to adolescents in England.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: In November 2005, the indications for nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) were broadened in the United Kingdom, making all forms available to 12-17-year-olds. This study aimed to estimate the effects of this change on prescribing of NRT to adolescents in England. Segmented regression analysis of primary care data on prescribing of nicotine replacement therapy using general additive mixed models. A total of 350 general practices in England included in The Health Improvement Network (THIN), a database of UK electronic primary care records. All 12-17-year-old patients registered with a THIN practice in England. Measurements Monthly rates of prescribing of NRT per 100 000 12-17-year-old patients registered with a THIN practice between January 2002 and June 2009. Prescribing of NRT was highest in 16-17-year-olds and extremely low in 12-13-year-olds, generally fewer than 10 prescriptions per 100 000 adolescents per month. Girls tended to be prescribed NRT more frequently than boys. In 12-17-year-olds rates of prescribing were increasing prior to the broadening of indications, and there was no step change, but the rate of increase was lower, after the indications were broadened. Recent changes to the marketing licence for nicotine replacement therapy in England to include adolescents appear to have had little or no effect on prescribing practices.Addiction 04/2011; 106(8):1513-9. · 4.31 Impact Factor -
Article: Prescribing of smoking cessation medication in England since the introduction of varenicline.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: To estimate the effect of the introduction of a new smoking cessation medication, varenicline, and the publication of guidance related to its use, on trends in prescribing of smoking cessation medications in England. Interrupted time series analysis of primary care data on prescribing of smoking cessation medication using autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) modelling. A total of 446 general practices included in The Health Improvement Network (THIN), a database of UK electronic primary care records. All primary care patients registered with a THIN practice in England. Monthly rates of prescribing of varenicline, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and bupropion per 100 000 patients registered with a THIN practice between June 2000 and June 2009. NRT was the most commonly prescribed stop smoking medication, and bupropion the least frequently prescribed. After its introduction in December 2006 varenicline rapidly became the second most commonly prescribed drug. There was no statistically significant change in overall prescribing for smoking cessation medications after its introduction (P = 0.760), or after the publication of the related guidance in July 2007 (P = 0.134). Soon after being introduced in England, varenicline was widely prescribed; after nicotine replacement therapy it was the most commonly prescribed cessation medication. However, this does not appear to have increased overall rates of prescribing for smoking cessation medication.Addiction 03/2011; 106(7):1319-24. · 4.31 Impact Factor
