GSK survey finds smokers uninformed about treatments for quitting

PORTLAND, Ore. A new GlaxoSmithKline survey presented before the annual meeting of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco on Saturday revealed that smokers’ misperceptions about cessation treatments may prevent them from attempting to quit smoking.

The study’s findings indicate smokers dramatically underestimate the safety and efficacy of nicotine replacement therapy products for quitting smoking, which may lead to less use of proven smoking cessation therapy.

Three of every four smokers wrongly believe or do not know whether NRT is more addictive than cigarettes. Additionally, 68 percent of smokers wrongly answered or do not know whether NRT products are as dangerous as cigarettes. Less than 3 percent of respondents answered all questions about treatment correctly, demonstrating the need for further education.

The findings were based on a study of 900 men and women adult smokers in the U.S. that was fielded in July 2007 by Richard Day Research through an online panel, screening for adults age 18 and over who smoke cigarettes every day. The “average” respondent in the survey was 48 years of age and started smoking when they were 16 years old, smoked 20 cigarettes per day and has tried to quit three times in the past (16 percent of respondents have never tried to quit). The survey was conducted on behalf of The American Legacy Foundation and GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare.