A novel approach to giving up smoking has been demonstrated at the world anti-tobacco conference by Irish researchers.
Ms Norma Cronin and Ms Maureen Mulvihill, of the Irish Cancer Society and the Irish Heart Foundation respectively, reported on the success of the "Kick the Habit" programme, which was designed for building workers.
Supported by the Construction Employees Health Trust, it took the form of a stop-smoking competition for the 43 per cent of building workers who smoke in the Republic. A free draw for a holiday was the incentive.
Some 129 workers entered the competition in 1998 and three months later 46 per cent remained off cigarettes. This year, the comparable figure was 43 per cent.
Construction workers received an advice kit and telephone follow-up by counsellors. Most entrants used willpower to quit, while a minority relied on nicotine replacement therapy. Most participants were on their second or subsequent attempt to stop smoking.
The authors concluded that a competitive approach to giving up cigarettes is especially useful in a transient population.