Charlotte S Scherphof1, Regina J J M van den Eijnden2, Rutger C M E Engels3, Wilma A M Vollebergh2. 1. Child and Adolescent Studies, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80.140, 3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: c.s.scherphof@uu.nl. 2. Child and Adolescent Studies, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80.140, 3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands. 3. Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A double-blind RCT on the short-term efficacy of nicotine patches compared to placebo patches among Dutch adolescents was conducted. The findings demonstrated that nicotine patches are efficacious for smoking cessation at end-of-treatment; however, only in highly compliant participants. We tested whether the effects of NRT also held in 6- (T7) and 12-month (T8) follow-up assessments. METHODS:Adolescents aged 12-18 years, who smoked at least seven cigarettes a day and who were motivated to quit smoking were recruited at school yards and randomly assigned to either a nicotine patch (n=182) or a placebo patch (n=180) condition according to a computer generated list. Participants (N=257, age: 16.7 ± 1.13 years) attended an information meeting followed by a 6- or 9-week treatment. Smoking cessation, compliance, and potential covariates were measured by means of online questionnaires. Smoking cessation at T8 was biochemically validated by saliva cotinine. RESULTS: At T7, 8.1% and 5.7% of participants were abstinent in the nicotine and placebo patch groups, respectively. At T8, abstinence was 4.4% and 6.6%, respectively. Intention-to-treat analyses showed no significant effects of NRT on abstinence rates at T7 (OR=1.54, 95% CI=0.57, 4.16) and validated abstinence rates at T8 (OR=0.64, 95% CI=0.21, 1.93) neither after considering compliance nor after adjusting for covariates. CONCLUSIONS:NRT fails in helping adolescents quit smoking at 6- and 12-month follow-ups. This finding suggests that a more intensive approach is needed to assist youngsters in their quit attempts.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: A double-blind RCT on the short-term efficacy of nicotine patches compared to placebo patches among Dutch adolescents was conducted. The findings demonstrated that nicotine patches are efficacious for smoking cessation at end-of-treatment; however, only in highly compliant participants. We tested whether the effects of NRT also held in 6- (T7) and 12-month (T8) follow-up assessments. METHODS: Adolescents aged 12-18 years, who smoked at least seven cigarettes a day and who were motivated to quit smoking were recruited at school yards and randomly assigned to either a nicotine patch (n=182) or a placebo patch (n=180) condition according to a computer generated list. Participants (N=257, age: 16.7 ± 1.13 years) attended an information meeting followed by a 6- or 9-week treatment. Smoking cessation, compliance, and potential covariates were measured by means of online questionnaires. Smoking cessation at T8 was biochemically validated by saliva cotinine. RESULTS: At T7, 8.1% and 5.7% of participants were abstinent in the nicotine and placebo patch groups, respectively. At T8, abstinence was 4.4% and 6.6%, respectively. Intention-to-treat analyses showed no significant effects of NRT on abstinence rates at T7 (OR=1.54, 95% CI=0.57, 4.16) and validated abstinence rates at T8 (OR=0.64, 95% CI=0.21, 1.93) neither after considering compliance nor after adjusting for covariates. CONCLUSIONS: NRT fails in helping adolescents quit smoking at 6- and 12-month follow-ups. This finding suggests that a more intensive approach is needed to assist youngsters in their quit attempts.
Authors: Thomas R Fanshawe; William Halliwell; Nicola Lindson; Paul Aveyard; Jonathan Livingstone-Banks; Jamie Hartmann-Boyce Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2017-11-17