New research project to help women stop smoking

Posted on: 15 February 2018

Trinity College Dublin together with the Irish Cancer Society and the HSE are conducting research on new approaches into helping women quit smoking in their own communities. It is currently looking for women aged 18 and upwards to participate in the study which is being rolled out in parts of Dublin and Cork. The aim of the research is to figure out the best way to support women to stop smoking. This will be done by comparing two different programmes: ‘a community stop smoking’ programme, which is specifically designed for women, and a HSE stop smoking locally-based service designed for both men and women.

The study will be rolled out with the support of local community development agencies in four waves in parts of Dublin and Cork between February 2018 and June 2019. Recruitment for the first wave is currently under way in the Liberties area of Dublin 8, and Charlemont, and central areas of Dublin 2. The second wave will take place in the Gould’s Hill, Mallow, and Fermoy town in Co. Cork with recruitment due to start in late February. Wave 3 will be run in the Northside of Cork city in September, and Wave 4 in the Ballyfermot and Cherry Orchard areas of Dublin 10 in January 2019.

“We need 60 women for each wave of the study who live in the specified areas and currently smoke, to sign up and take part in this exciting new research”, said  Associate Professor  in Public Health, Catherine Hayes at Trinity College Dublin who is leading the study.

Each district will be allocated to either one of the two stop smoking programmes.  Each woman will be offered six weeks of close monitoring and support. At 12 weeks from the start of the programme, the researchers will assess how effective each programme was in supporting the women to stop smoking. Women will be invited back to their community programme after six months to assess their progress, discuss how the programme worked for them and to monitor the long-term benefits of taking part in the programme.

“Even if you are just thinking about quitting, taking part in this research, specifically designed to help women smokers, will be of benefit to you”, Prof Hayes added. “Stopping smoking is associated with so many health benefits.  In the short term your breathing is likely to get better, your skin and hair may improve as well as your ability to exercise. You will also be better off financially. In the longer term you will  lower your risk of developing cancer, heart disease and stroke and improve your quality of life“.

Community Programmes Manager at the Irish Cancer Society, Joanne Vance, said: “We know that seven out of ten smokers want to stop but it can be very difficult without support.  Women smoke for a range of complex reasons, which can sometimes make it more difficult for them to take time out and ask for support to quit. This is why we want to investigate new approaches to help women to quit smoking. We are delighted to be a part of this initiative which will help inform how smoking cessation programmes are designed and delivered over the coming years. Investing in smoking cessation services is one of the most cost-effective ways of improving the nation’s health and reducing the risk of cancer.”

We are currently recruiting women smokers for the first wave of the study who want to stop smoking. If you are aged 18 or over and live in the Liberties or Charlemont areas of Central Dublin we would welcome your participation. You can get in touch by:

Registering your interest online at www.tcd.ie/medicine/wcq2 or rby email:  wcq2@irishcancer.ie

Note to Editors:

This collaborative research study is led by Professor Catherine Hayes at Trinity College Dublin, and is supported by the Irish Cancer Society, HSE, the University of Stirling, and Napier University in Edinburgh and development organisations in Dublin and Cork. It is funded by the Irish Health Research Board.

At community level, the research study is being supported by local community development groups.

The study, which begins in January 2018 aims to reach 200 women in Dublin and Cork, and will be completed by March 2020.

This work supports the goal of the Irish Cancer Society and the National Tobacco Free Ireland Strategy to reduce smoking prevalence for all population groups from 23% to 5 % by 2025.