ISSN:
1360-0443
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
,
Psychology
Notes:
Aims To assess smoking cessation rates achieved with nicotine gum and patch in simulated over-the-counter (OTC) and actual prescription (Rx) settings.Design Separate open-label studies with gum and patch in OTC and Rx settings.Participants There were multiple samples: OTC gum: 2981 smokers; OTC patch: 2367; Rx gum: 324; Rx patch: 669.Interventions All smokers received active nicotine replacement. In the OTC setting, smokers self-selected doses of nicotine gum (2 or 4 mg Nicorette®) or patch (21, 14 or 7 mg NicoDerm® CQ). No intervention was provided. In the Rx setting, smokers were prescribed gum or patch by their physician.Measurements Biochemically verified continuous smoking abstinence was assessed at 6 weeks (28-day abstinence) and 6 months.Findings OTC success rates were consistently higher than Rx rates: differences were significant at 6 weeks for both patch [OR = 1.45 (1.05–1.98)] and gum [OR = 2.92 (1.58–5.40)], and remained significant at 6 months for patch [OR = 3.63; (1.74–7.61)] but not gum [OR = 1.37; (0.73–2.58)]. Among OTC gum users, 16.1% were abstinent at 6 weeks and 8.4% at 6 months. For Rx gum users, abstinence rates were 7.7% at 6 weeks and 7.7% at 6 months. With OTC patch, 19.0% were abstinent at 6 weeks and 9.2% at 6 months. With Rx patch, abstinence rates were 16.0% at 6 weeks and 3.0% at 6 months.Conclusions Smoking cessation rates achieved with nicotine gum and patch under OTC conditions were as good as those under real-world prescribing conditions.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1360-0443.2002.00141.x
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