Awareness, trial, and current use of electronic cigarettes in 10 countries: Findings from the ITC project.

Background: In recent years, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have generated considerable interest and debate on the implications for tobacco control and public health. Although the rapid growth of e-cigarettes is global, at present, little is known about awareness and use. This paper presents self-reported awareness, trial and current use of e-cigarettes in 10 countries surveyed between 2009 and 2013; for six of these countries, we present the first data on e-cigarettes from probability samples of adult smokers.

Understanding increases in smoking prevalence: case study from France in comparison with England 2000-10.

Aim: In France, following a long-term decline in smoking prevalence, an increase in smoking was observed between 2005 and 2010, an unusual occurrence in countries in the 'mature' stage of the smoking epidemic. By contrast, smoking prevalence in England, the neighbouring country, continued its long-term decline.

Methods: We identified and translated recent reports on smoking and tobacco control in France and using these assessed the main data sources on smoking and compared them with similar sources in England, in order to explore possible explanations.

Australian smokers' support for plain or standardised packs before and after implementation: findings from the ITC Four Country Survey.

Background: Plain packaging (PP) for tobacco products was fully implemented in Australia on 1 December 2012 along with larger graphic health warnings. Using longitudinal data from the Australian arm of the ITC Four Country Survey, we examined attitudes to the new packs before and after implementation, predictors of attitudinal change, and the relationship between support and quitting activity.

Methods: A population-based cohort study design, with some cross-sectional analyses.

Trends in E-Cigarette Awareness, Trial, and Use Under the Different Regulatory Environments of Australia and the United Kingdom.

Introduction: E-cigarettes (ECs) have gained significant attention in recent years. They have been introduced in jurisdictions with divergent existing laws that affect their legality. This provides the opportunity for natural experiments to assess effects of such laws in some cases independent of any formulated government policy.

Effectiveness of a mobile, drop-in stop smoking service in reaching and supporting disadvantaged UK smokers to quit.

Background: In countries where there are large disparities in smoking with persistent high rates among disadvantaged groups, there is a need to ensure that stop smoking services (SSS) reach such smokers. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile, drop-in, community-based SSS in reaching more disadvantaged smokers, particularly those from routine and manual (RM) occupation groups, than standard services; secondary aims were to evaluate effectiveness in reaching those who had not previously accessed SSS, triggering unplanned quit behaviour, helping people quit and cost-effectiveness.

Methods: Following a 4-week pilot period, a mobile drop-in SSS was delivered across various public locations in Nottingham City, UK for 6 months, offering behavioural and pharmacological support via one-to-one consultations with trained cessation advisors.

Smoking cessation education and training in U.K. medical schools: a national survey.

Introduction: Smoking cessation is one of the most cost-effective of all health interventions. Physicians are in a strong position to encourage smokers to make a quit attempt and to help them achieve long-term abstinence. Formal teaching on tobacco-related disease, the evidence base of smoking cessation, and practical skills training regarding cessation advice and counseling are therefore important parts of undergraduate medical education.

Association of amount and duration of NRT use in smokers with cigarette consumption and motivation to stop smoking: a national survey of smokers in England.

Introduction: Clinical trials have found that the use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to reduce cigarette consumption results in significant declines in cigarette consumption and increases smokers' propensity to quit. However, observational "real-world" studies have found much smaller effects. This may be because of low levels of NRT use.

How does the emotive content of televised anti-smoking mass media campaigns influence monthly calls to the NHS Stop Smoking helpline in England?

Objective: To investigate the effects of different types of televised mass media campaign content on calls to the English NHS Stop Smoking helpline.

Method: We used UK government-funded televised tobacco control campaigns from April 2005 to April 2010, categorised as either "positive" (eliciting happiness, satisfaction or hope) or "negative" (eliciting fear, guilt or disgust). We built negative binomial generalised additive models (GAMs) with linear and smooth terms for monthly per capita exposure to each campaign type (expressed as Gross Ratings Points, or GRPs) to determine their effect on calls in the same month.

A critique of a World Health Organization-commissioned report and associated paper on electronic cigarettes.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently commissioned a report reviewing evidence on electronic cigarettes and making policy recommendations. A version of it was subsequently published as an academic paper. We identify important errors in the description and interpretation of the studies reviewed, and find many of its key conclusions misleading.

Diverging trends in smoking behaviors according to mental health status.

Introduction: People with mental health disorders are much more likely to smoke compared to those who do not. This study investigates recent trends in smoking behaviors among both these populations in England.

Methods: We used survey responses from adults (aged 16 years and older) living in households in England who participated in the Health Survey for England from 1993 to 2011 (n = 11,300 per year on average).

Application of the diffusive gradients in thin films technique for available potassium measurement in agricultural soils: effects of competing cations on potassium uptake by the resin gel.

The utilization of Amberlite (IRP-69 ion-exchange resin, 100-500 wet mesh) as the binding phase in the diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique has shown potential to improve the assessment of plant-available K in soils. The binding phase has recently been optimized by using a mixed Amberlite and ferrihydrite (MAF) gel which results in linear K uptake over extended deployment periods and in solutions with higher K concentrations. As restriction of K uptake by Ca on the Amberlite based resin gel has been previously proposed, potential competing effects of Ca(2+), Mg(2+) and NH(4+) on K uptake by the MAF gel were investigated.

Smoking and its treatment in addiction services: clients' and staff behaviour and attitudes.

Background: High smoking prevalence has been observed among those misusing other substances. This study aimed to establish smoking behaviours and attitudes towards nicotine dependence treatment among clients and staff in substance abuse treatment settings.

Methods: Cross-sectional questionnaire survey of staff and clients in a convenience sample of seven community and residential addiction services in, or with links to, Europe's largest provider of mental health care, the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.

Smoking in cars in England: a study of school students in an English city.

Background: Exposure to secondhand smoke is associated with an increased risk of adverse health effects among children. Although smoking in the home is an established major source of exposure, less is known about rules on smoking in cars.

Methods: In a survey including a sample of secondary school students in Nottingham (UK) in 2012, participants were asked whether smoking was allowed in the family car, and how often the respondent travelled in a car in which smoking was allowed.

The impact of televised tobacco control advertising content on campaign recall: evidence from the International Tobacco Control (ITC) United Kingdom Survey.

Background: Although there is some evidence to support an association between exposure to televised tobacco control campaigns and recall among youth, little research has been conducted among adults. In addition, no previous work has directly compared the impact of different types of emotive campaign content. The present study examined the impact of increased exposure to tobacco control advertising with different types of emotive content on rates and durations of self-reported recall.

Prevalence and characteristics of e-cigarette users in Great Britain: Findings from a general population survey of smokers.

Background: E-cigarettes may be effective smoking cessation aids and their use by smokers has been growing rapidly. It is important to observe and assess natural patterns in the use of e-cigarettes whilst experimental data accumulates. This paper reports the prevalence of e-cigarette awareness, beliefs and usage, including brand choice, and characterises the socio-demographic and smoking profile associated with current use, among the general population of smokers and recent ex-smokers.

Change in mental health after smoking cessation: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To investigate change in mental health after smoking cessation compared with continuing to smoke.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Data Sources: Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Medline, Embase, and PsycINFO for relevant studies from inception to April 2012.

Effectiveness of tobacco control television advertising in changing tobacco use in England: a population-based cross-sectional study.

Aim: To examine whether government-funded tobacco control television advertising shown in England between 2002 and 2010 reduced adult smoking prevalence and cigarette consumption.

Design: Analysis of monthly cross-sectional surveys using generalised additive models.

Setting: England.

Airflow obstruction, lung function, and incidence of atrial fibrillation: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study.

Background: Reduced low forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) is reportedly associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). Extant reports do not provide separate estimates for never smokers or for blacks, who incongruously have lower AF incidence than whites.

Methods And Results: We examined 15 004 middle-aged blacks and whites enrolled in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) cohort study.

The freeze on mass media campaigns in England: a natural experiment of the impact of tobacco control campaigns on quitting behaviour.

Aims: To measure the impact of the suspension of tobacco control mass media campaigns in England in April 2010 on measures of smoking cessation behaviour.

Design: Interrupted time series design using routinely collected population-level data. Analysis of use of a range of types of smoking cessation support using segmented negative binomial regression.

Is consumer response to plain/standardised tobacco packaging consistent with framework convention on tobacco control guidelines? A systematic review of quantitative studies.

Background And Objectives: Standardised or 'plain' tobacco packaging was introduced in Australia in December 2012 and is currently being considered in other countries. The primary objective of this systematic review was to locate, assess and synthesise published and grey literature relating to the potential impacts of standardised tobacco packaging as proposed by the guidelines for the international Framework Convention on Tobacco Control: reduced appeal, increased salience and effectiveness of health warnings, and more accurate perceptions of product strength and harm.

Methods: Electronic databases were searched and researchers in the field were contacted to identify studies.