Quebec smokers aware of tools to help them quit, but don’t use them: INSPQ study

Research shows that although many smokers and recent ex-smokers in Quebec are aware of the tools available to help them stop smoking, few use them.

A study published by the Institut national de santé publique (INSPQ) finds that even pharmacological aids and well-known services are rarely used.

The J’ARRÊTE telephone helpline and website are known to 81 per cent and 61 per cent of recent smokers and ex-smokers respectively, but it’s only used by two per cent and eight per cent of them, with divided opinions about well they help.

Pharmacological aids, in particular nicotine patches, gum, and lozenges, are known to over 95 per cent of current and former smokers aged 18 and over but used by less than 10 per cent.

Reimbursements for pharmacological aids are considered very useful by most beneficiaries, yet few smokers take advantage of it.

The INSPQ points out that the literature confirms that these interventions are effective and that their costs are lower than treatments for diseases caused by smoking.

However, a significant proportion of smokers and recent ex-smokers reported that they want to quit smoking on their own.

The research points out that these low resource uses are not unique to Quebec; it has also been observed in other Canadian provinces and elsewhere in the world.

The INSPQ’s data is based on a questionnaire filled out by smokers and ex-smokers between February and May 2022, with a total of 1,336 people who took part.

This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews.