Project leader
Co-Investigators
Patrik Karlsson
Funding source
Forte - Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare
Project Details
Start date: 01/01/2017
End date: 31/12/2019
Funding: 3030000 SEK
Description
Smoking is in most circles today seen as a major public health problem causing death and ill health on a large scale why prevention efforts and smoking cessation aid is an important arena.
The overall aim for the proposed study is to carry through a 7 year follow-up of a large survey from 2010 comprising 1683 former smokers. The 2010 data includes demography, narratives of tobacco history, the use of snus or other replacement therapies, participation in cessation programs, and health problems related to smoking. In addition to this we also have access to data that includes questions on snus use and risk assessment. Analyses of the survey data will include descriptive analyses, as well as cluster analyses, and logistic regression analyses. In addition we will work with interviews carried through with a group of respondents and relate them to previous narratives from the same individuals.
There are very few long term follow-up studies of smoking cessation but the data set from 2010 gives a unique possibility of follow-up for a large group of former smokers. The significance of a seven year follow-up, with such a large sample, is immense. Not only can we in narratives follow quitters, we can also study health situations, relapses and the use of treatment, support groups, replacement therapies, and snus. In Sweden, snus is a significant mean for men to become smoke-free. However, snus as a mean to quit smoking may result in a continued use.
Smoking is estimated to kill about 12 000 Swedes annually, and smoking-related diseases affect about 100 000, underlining the significance of more knowledge about smoking cessation, from the perspective of former smokers, and the long term process of smoking cessation. A significant gap of knowledge concerns snus, and there are no longitudinal studies known on the impact of snus for smoking cessation, risk assessment or cessation processes for snus.
