Smokers Still Unaware of Health Effects of Smoking, Says Survey

According to a Nov. 15 press release, Richard Day Research conducted a survey of 900 adults, both men and women, about smokers' knowledge in terms of nicotine in cigarettes and its relationship to serious health problems such as cancer and heart and lung diseases. The survey was done in the U.S. through an online panel, screening for adults 18 and older who were daily cigarette smokers. The average age of the respondents was 48. They started smoking, on average, at age 16, were currently smoking an average of a pack of cigarettes a day, and had tried to quit an average of three times. Just 16 percent of the respondents had never tried to quit.

In spite of efforts to educate, over the past several decades, on the dangers of smoking, the survey results were not only surprising, but also disappointing. The results indicated that, although many people who smoke are at least aware that it can lead to serious diseases such as cancer, many still underestimate their actual risk of developing cancer from smoking. In fact, 66 percent underestimate the chance of developing lung cancer compared to non-smokers, and 40 percent wrongly believe that developing lung cancer depends more on genes than anything else. The survey also found that as many as 33 percent of smokers believe certain activities such as exercise and taking vitamins could reverse or protect them from most of the effects of smoking.

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products, such the gum, patches and lozenges, are designed to gradually wean smokers off nicotine. Unlike the nicotine in cigarettes, long-term use of NRTs is not known to have any serious harmful effects. Yet, the survey found that 65 percent of the respondents either believe or are unsure if nicotine in NRT products is more dangerous than the nicotine in cigarettes.

Sixty-six percent either believe or are unsure if NRTs cause cancer. And 92 percent either believe or didn't know if smoking while wearing the NRT patch can cause heart attacks.

The survey also found that 76 percent of those who had used NRT products in the past were not using the NRTs as the product label instructs.

Dr. Cheryl Healton is the president and CEO of the American Legacy Foundation. She said that what's "alarming about these survey findings is that so many smokers are still so misinformed. Proven cessation treatments like nicotine replacement therapy continue to be underutilized and we believe these misperceptions are partly to blame. These findings point to the fact that more needs to be done to educate and inform smokers."

Bill Slivka of GlaxoSmithKine Consumer Healthcare says that "study after study shows that, when used correctly, these products double a smoker's chances of quitting versus cold turkey. The reality is that most smokers need some type of support when quitting smoking."

Nonetheless, research shows the majority of smokers try to quit "cold turkey." Yet, only a small percentage (3-5 percent) of those are successful over the long haul. A combination of counseling, social support systems and the use of cessation tools such as NRTs certainly has a better track record. Yet, the survey found that the vast majority of the respondents says they believe that quitting is just a matter of willpower.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cigarette smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death in the U.S. According to the most recent figures, updated Nov. 2007, cigarette smoking accounts for approximately 1 of every 5 deaths (438,000 people) annually.

Sources:

Press release, "Smokers Remain Unaware of the Health Effects of Smoking, New Survey Finds;" http://www.prweb.com/releases/Smoking_Cessation/Nicotine_Replacement/prweb569634.htm

CDC; http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/Factsheets/adult_cig_smoking.htm