Views on Smoking from those Working in Routine and Manual Job Roles

Healthwatch Derbyshire was commissioned by the Public Health teams at Derby City and Derbyshire County Council to collect the views and experiences of people working in routine and manual job roles via a survey. They wanted to understand their views of the stop smoking services, if there are barriers to stopping smoking and their reasons for smoking.  The research informed the upcoming messaging campaign on stopping smoking. They collected 51 responses.

• Many people want to stop smoking, with the main reasons being to improve their health, save money, and protect their families.
• Most people were not aware that quit-smoking products could be sent to them at no cost, or that they don’t need a GP appointment to access services
• People said that smoking is often linked to stress, habit, or routine, and many felt it gave them a break or helped them cope
• People said they preferred positive messaging, based on real stories and benefits, rather than negative, fearful or graphic images
• Some people face extra challenges due to shift work, mental health, or living and working across counties.