The number of smokers that had set a quit date and had successfully quit smoking at the 4 week follow up expressed as a rate per 100,000 resident population.
The detrimental effects of smoking are widely known. There are large differences in smoking prevalence and consumption in the UK, varying by age, sex, social class, employment status, and ethnicity. People in deprived circumstances are not only more likely to take up smoking but generally start younger, smoke more heavily and are less likely to quit smoking, each of which increases the risk of smoking-related disease. About 12 million adults in the UK smoke cigarettes - 27% of men and 25% of women. Reducing smoking prevalence is a national priority as set out the PSA 18 Delivery Agreement in the HM Treasury Groups Strategic Objectives 2008-2011. The establishment of Stop Smoking Services (formerly known as Smoking Cessation Services) in the NHS is an important element of the Government's strategy for tackling smoking in recognition that many smokers want to stop, but find it hard to do so. This policy has been more recently restated in the NHS Plan2 and the NHS Cancer Plan3, with a further target to reduce smoking prevalence among manual groups from 32% in 1998 to 26% by 2010. Tobacco is also a key focus of the Choosing Health White Paper4.
Legacy unique identifier: P01069