Staffordshire University Tests New Quit Smoking Method

Date: Oct-02-2012Scientists at Staffordshire University have found a cunning way to help young women
stop smoking: by showing them a picture of what they would look like a 72 year old smoker.

The research, carried out by Professor Sarah Grogan, Professor David Clark-Carter,
Keira Flett and other colleagues based at University of Leeds, Nottingham Trent
University, University of Canberra and Stoke Primary Care Trust, measured the effects of
using the computer ageing technology to show how the study participants would look at age
72 if they continued to smoke. They were also shown an image of what they would look like
at the same age if they quit smoking.

In interviews, women reported being highly motivated to quit smoking as a result of
the intervention and also felt more personal responsibility for quitting.

In a large scale study measuring attitudes towards smoking and perceived nicotine
addiction, young women smokers who saw images of how they would age with and without
smoking had a more positive attitude to quitting smoking compared to women smokers who did
not see these images.

They also felt less addicted to nicotine after the intervention and were more likely
to plan to give up smoking compared to women in the control group.

These studies suggest that appearance-related smoking interventions may be a useful
addition to conventional quit smoking methods.

Professor Grogan, said: "Body image is a major concern for many young women. Our
research tapped into this phenomenon and used these concerns positively to promote health.
It is well documented that smoking ages the skin, but seeing the effects on their own
faces had a marked impression on our respondents.

"Following this research, the University hopes that this technology will be rolled out
across the UK to make smoking cessation more effective for young people".

Courtesy: Medical News Today Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.