Friday, 7 September 2007 - 10:05 AM
307

Planets in alignment - the decline in NSW smoking rates

Trish Cotter, BSc, MPH, Prevention Division, Cancer Institute NSW, Level 1, Biomedical Building, Australian Technology Park, Eveleigh, Australia, Donna Perez, Cancer Prevention, Cancer Institute New South Wales, PO Box 41, Alexandria, Australia, Dr John Sanders, RFD, Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Advancement, NSW Department of Health, PO Box 961, North Sydney NSW 2059, Australia, and Elayne Mitchell, MHScHP, Tobacco and Health Branch, NSW Department of Health, Locked Mail Bag 961,, NSW. Australia. 2059, North Sydney, Australia.

Background: Smoking rates in NSW declined only 1.4% in the three years 2002 to 2005. 2006 was a year during which a broad range of policy and program initiatives came to fruition – introduction of graphic health warnings, well-funding media campaigns and restrictions on smoking in pubs and clubs. However, there was a formidable challenge for NSW tobacco control partners to kick-start a downward trend in smoking rates.

Underpinned by the NSW Tobacco Action Plan 2005-2009, what unfolded was a classic but rare example of a comprehensive tobacco control program led by a well funded media campaign.

Strategy:

This paper will report on the policy and program environment in NSW in 2006 in the context of a comprehensive tobacco control program based on evidence for best practice and discuss outcome data on the 2006 NSW smoking prevalence rates – released in March 2007. In addition the paper will describe changes in smokers' attitudes, knowledge and quitting behaviour (pre and post 2006) and discuss the relationships between prevalence and funding.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the authors will hypothesise about the “tipping point” of funding, weight of media spend and policy initiatives for smoking prevalence reduction.



Web Page: www.cancerinstitute.org.au

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