Koori Quit Pack: A feasibility study of a multi-component mailout smoking cessation support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: "I would recommend it to anybody. It's just so much easier"

Michelle Kennedy; Raglan Maddox; Amanual Getnet Mersha; Catherine Chamberlain; Catherine Segan; Kerindy Clarke; Belinda Donaldson; Kayden Roberts Barker; Joley Forster; Kade Booth; Billie Bonevski

doi:10.1093/ntr/ntae106

Koori Quit Pack: A feasibility study of a multi-component mailout smoking cessation support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: "I would recommend it to anybody. It's just so much easier"

Nicotine Tob Res. 2024 May 3:ntae106. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntae106. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Michelle Kennedy^{1

2}, Raglan Maddox³, Amanual Getnet Mersha^{1

2}, Catherine Chamberlain^{4

5

6}, Catherine Segan^{7

8}, Kerindy Clarke⁹, Belinda Donaldson¹⁰, Kayden Roberts Barker¹, Joley Forster¹, Kade Booth^{1

2}, Billie Bonevski¹¹

Affiliations

¹ College of Health Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.
² Equity in Health and Wellbeing Research Program Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle, New Lambton, New South Wales, Australia.
³ National Centre for Epidemiology and Public Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
⁴ Onemda Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Wellbeing, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁵ Judith Lumley Centre, School of Nursing and Midwifery, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁶ Ngangk Yira Research Centre for Aboriginal Health and Social Equity, Murdoch, University, Perth, WA, Australia.
⁷ Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁸ Centre for Health Policy, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁹ Medibank Private, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
¹⁰ Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Collingwood, Victoria, Australia.
¹¹ Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public, Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia.

PMID: 38700502
DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntae106

Abstract

Introduction: Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The Koori1 Quit Pack study aimed to assess the feasibility of a multi-component mailout smoking cessation intervention to reduce smoking among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Methods: A non-randomised, single-group feasibility study conducted among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who reported current smoking. The intervention package included information pamphlets and resources on quitting, referral offer to Aboriginal Quitline and optional free Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRT). Follow-up was conducted at 2-weeks, 6-weeks, 10-weeks and 6-months post recruitment. Feasibility outcomes were recruitment and retention rates, uptake of intervention components and smoking abstinence at 6-week follow-up (primary end point). Cessation outcomes were analysed using both a complete case analysis and intention-to-treat approach.

Results: 165 participants were recruited, 111 (67.3%), 79 (47.9%), 59 (35.8%), and 94 (57%) participants completed the 2-week, 6-week, 10-week, and 6-month follow-up. At 10-week follow-up, 40.7% of participants used pamphlets and booklets, 13.6% used Quitline and > 90% used NRT. At 6-week follow-up, 87.3% reported a quit attempt and 46.8% sustained quitting. 46.8% were continuously smoke-free at the 6-week timepoint. The complete case analysis and the intention-to-treat analysis at 6-month shows a 7-day self-reported point prevalence abstinence of 34% and 19.4% respectively.

Conclusion: The Koori Quit Pack mailout smoking cessation program was feasible to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The intervention resulted in a high smoking cessation rate and should be upscaled, implemented and evaluated nationally.

Implications: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are disproportionately impacted by tobacco related harms, however the majority want to quit or wish they never took up smoking. Mailout cessation support is feasible, overcomes access barriers to evidence-based support and increases quitting success. We recommend a national mailout smoking cessation program is implemented for, and by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to accelerate declines in smoking prevalence to eliminate tobacco related death and disease.