Real World Effectiveness of Nicotine Replacement Therapy

Hughes, John

Thursday, August 16, 2012: 10:30 AM

2208 (Kansas City Convention Center)

Dr. John Hughes, MD , Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT

Dr. Erica Peters, Ph.D. , Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT

Dr. Jonathan Foulds, PhD , Cancer Institute, Penn State University , Hershey, PA

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this presentation attendees will be able to:

State the pros and cons of efficacy and effectiveness studies of OTC NRT.
Know methods to increase the effectiveness of OTC NRT

Cross Cutting Program Area(s): Tobacco Control Policies

Audience: Those who deliver or administer smoking cessation treatments

Key Points: Dr Hughes will review evidence from randomized trials and from real-world effectiveness trials on the efficacy of over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapy (OTC NRT), including studies of the impact of free OTC NRT from quitlines and studies of those who quit with NRT vs quit on their own. He will focus on how to interpret conflicting results when they arise from studies that differ in scientific quality and real-world applicability. Dr Foulds will review the several proposals to increase the effectiveness of and access to OTC NRT; e.g., combining NRT products, use by pregnant smokers, long-term use, and use for temporary abstinence. He will review scientific studies and expert consensus statements. He will focus on how tobacco control organizations and individual therapists should proceed when these conflict with FDA restrictions.

Educational Experience: Two brief presentations followed by question and answer period

Benefits: Better understand the evidence for whether OTC NRT is effective in the real world and ways to improve its effectiveness