Effectiveness of Tobacco Cessation Interventions for Different Groups of Users in Sweden: a National Prospective Cohort Study

Smoking is still one of the most important risk factors causing morbidity and mortality in Sweden. Every year, 12,000 Swedish citizens die prematurely from smoking, and smoking is responsible for up to 60% of the inequity in health.

Though the smoking prevalence is relatively low in Sweden in an international context (8% and 10% for men and women respectively in 2016), specific vulnarable groups have a very high prevalence; e.g. about 80% in alcohol and drug abusers. Furthermore, Sweden has a unique high prevalence of snus users and in 2016 the daily use of tobacco was 25% for men and 14% for women. In addition, products such as cigarettes, snus, and e-cigettes are often mixed.

Despite the fact that about a thousand counsellors have been trained in manual-based person-centred tobacco cessation interventions in Sweden, the effectiveness of the interventions remains unknown, as a follow-up on effect of in-person interventions is not systematically collected in Sweden. Therefore, as of today it is not possible, on a national level, to compare the effectiveness of differences in these interventions, providers, or different groups of tobacco users including disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.

In this study the investigators will evaluate the effectiveness of already implemented in-person cessation interventions targeting smoking, use of snus and/or e-cigarettes, focusing on disadvantaged and vulnerable groups of tobacco users. Furthermore, important factors associated with a successful outcome after controlling for confounders will be identified (in relation to programme, patients and setting).