Recent National Drug Strategy Household Survey data show that persons from disadvantaged areas are three times more likely to smoke daily compared to those from most advantaged areas (20% vs. 7%).
Less change in smoking rates occurred for the most disadvantaged quintile between 2001 (26%) and 2013 (20%), than the large (close to three-fold) decrease for the most advantaged quintile over the same time period (19% and 7% respectively). These differences in smoking prevalence between the most and least advantaged Australians contributes to health inequalities.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) can improve the likelihood of successful cessation but low-SES smokers comply poorly and discontinue NRT use earlier than high-SES smokers.
Facilitating smoking cessation among low-SES smokers is a national priority. Yet, no evidence-based interventions to improve treatment compliance with NRT have been found.
This study will evaluate the cost-effectiveness of enhanced compliance instruction (via text message) as a strategy for increasing smoking cessation in low-SES smokers.
