Nothing seems more effective in quitting smoking than financial incentives, according to a new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine. This is certainly interesting data, but difficult to transpose to real life.
While anti-smoking measures are starting to bear fruit in France, a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine has established a ranking of the most effective methods of quitting smoking.
600 dollars
To do this, 6006 smokers were divided into four groups. All were briefed on the benefits of stopping smoking, and motivated throughout the experience by encouraging text messages.
The first group then received free pharmacological therapies, the second free e-cigarette aids and the third free pharmacological therapy and the sum of $ 600 at the end of the experiment in the event of stopping withdrawal. Finally, the last group received free withdrawal aids and the deposit of $ 600 into an account at the start of the experiment with the threat of having it withdrawn in the event of a relapse.
Free smoking cessation aids
Six months later, abstinence rates were 0.1% in the free drug therapy group, 0.5% in the free e-cigarettes group, 2% in the $ 600 group. reward and 2.9% in the group of $ 600 deposited into an account at the start of the experience.
“The financial incentives added to free weaning aids have made it possible to obtain a higher rate of smoking abstinence than the only free weaning aids”, conclude the authors. “Among smokers who received the usual care (information and motivational text messages), the addition of free smoking cessation aids or electronic cigarettes was not beneficial.”
73,000 deaths each year
Saccording to data from the 2017 Health Barometer of Public Health France recently published, the prevalence of daily smoking fell from 29.4% in 2016 to 26.9% in 2017, a decrease of 2.5 points. This corresponds to a million fewer smokers over a year.
In France, smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death despite everything, with around 73,000 deaths each year. It can be the cause of multiple cancers (lung, throat, mouth, lips, pancreas, kidneys, bladder, uterus, esophagus). But also cardiovascular diseases (myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accidents, arteritis of the lower limbs, aneurysms, arterial hypertension) and erectile dysfunction.
Other pathologies are linked or are aggravated by smoking: gastritis, peptic ulcers, type II diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, eczema, psoriasis, lupus, ENT infections (nose – throat – ears) and dental, cataracts and AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration) can lead to blindness. Not to mention periodontitis, a gum disease that causes loosening and loss of teeth.
.
