Smoking Cessation Engagement

Healthwatch Devon was commissioned to undertake a survey to help understand what would encourage more people to use the NHS Stop Smoking Service, a key intervention in reducing smoking prevalence, and how this would need to be delivered to make it more accessible. Healthwatch felt the survey had a poor response (66 responses in total) and majority were gathered whilst in Ilfracombe which makes the results more representative of Ilfracombe than Devon, but still provides some good insights.

The feedback was gathered through a questionnaire asking people about their routine and habits and where and how they would like support to stop smoking. The target group to engage with included: Routine and manual workers, people with mental health, unemployed, those living in deprived areas and people with learning disability.

The report also summarises the results of a focus group held with 4 people about their smoking habits and history and their views about the Stop Smoking Service.

Some key findings from the report are:

- The majority, over 90%, smoked daily, and over threequarters of these started smoking within an hour of waking.

- Approximately half of those spoken to had tried an e-cigarette, mostly to help cut down or to quit smoking.

- Over three-quarters of respondents had heard of the Stop Smoking Service, but less than a third had actually used the service.

- Approximately one-quarter of those spoken to don’t see themselves quitting.

- The majority of those that did want to quite were planning to do so alone using a mixture of e-cigarettes and nicotine patches.

- Of those that would like support, face-to-face was the most popular choice of support, delivered either at a GP/doctor’s surgery or pharmacy.

- For those with a mental health condition, face-to-face, one-to-one support would be the most welcome form of support. In addition providing peer support once an individual had quit would be welcomed.

There are no recommendations in the report.