Randomized Controlled Trial of Mailed Nicotine Replacement Therapy to Canadian Smokers

Summary

This study will examine the efficacy of mailed distribution of free Nicotine Replacement Therapy to smokers. 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 8 weeks and 6 months time. Study participants will be asked about their smoking history and a hypothetical question: would they be interested in receiving the nicotine patch 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.

Timeline

Start

2012-05

Primary completion

2015-02

Completion

2015-05

Publications

• Kushnir V, Selby P, Zawertailo L, Tyndale RF, Leatherdale ST, Cunningham JA. Long-term effectiveness of mailed nicotine replacement therapy: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial 5-year follow-up. BMC Public Health. 2017 Jul 18;18(1):28. doi: 10.1186/s12889-017-4586-z.
• Kushnir V, Sproule BA, Cunningham JA. Impact of large-scale distribution and subsequent use of free nicotine patches on primary care physician interaction. BMC Public Health. 2017 Jul 11;18(1):4. doi: 10.1186/s12889-017-4548-5.
• Kushnir V, Sproule BA, Zawertailo L, Selby P, Tyndale RF, Leatherdale ST, Cunningham JA. Impact of self-reported lifetime depression or anxiety on effectiveness of mass distribution of nicotine patches. Tob Control. 2016 Sep;26(5):526-533. doi: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2016-052994. Epub 2016 Aug 19.
• Cunningham JA, Kushnir V, Selby P, Tyndale RF, Zawertailo L, Leatherdale ST. Effect of Mailing Nicotine Patches on Tobacco Cessation Among Adult Smokers: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2016 Feb;176(2):184-90. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2015.7792.
• Cunningham JA, Leatherdale ST, Selby PL, Tyndale RF, Zawertailo L, Kushnir V. Randomized controlled trial of mailed Nicotine Replacement Therapy to Canadian smokers: study protocol. BMC Public Health. 2011 Sep 28;11:741. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-11-741.

Drugs

Indications

No indication recorded.