Study aims to help people quit smoking for good

RESEARCHERS from Cancer Council Victoria and Queen Mary University of London are on the hunt for smokers and ex-smokers to take part in a first of its kind study to help people quit smoking cigarettes for good.

The Relapse Prevention Trial is recruiting more than 700 participants across Australia to test tools that may help ex-smokers manage temptations and stay smoke-free for life.

Quit Victoria director Dr Sarah White said relapse was a common part of quitting for the majority of smokers.

“Research shows that 70 per cent of people who quit smoking for a month will have relapsed within one year,” she said.

“However, there has been little research into how we can help quitters reduce their risk of relapse using things like nicotine replacement therapy, online support services, text messages with quitting tips and advice and other tools,” she said.

Study participants will be asked to use a variety of tools and services across a year and record whether they relapse or stay smoke-free.

“We know the vast majority of smokers want to quit and about half will try to quit every year. For some people, quitting is easy, but for some it’s pretty hard. We want to do everything we can to help,” Dr White said.

“Smoking kills more than 15,000 Australians every year and causes thousands more to suffer from significant smoking-related illnesses.

“The findings from this international study have the potential to improve the health and wellbeing of hundreds of thousands of Australians.”

The benefits of quitting smoking are both physical and financial. Quitting smoking saves the average ex-smoker about $7000 a year and reduces their stress and anxiety levels.

Recruitment for the Relapse Prevention Trial is open until June. Go to www.rpstudy.org.au or contact the study team on rpstudy@cancervic.org.au.