Few smokers in South Auckland access subsidised nicotine replacement therapy

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is a life-saving, cost-effective smoking cessation treatment that doubles the chances of long-term abstinence regardless of the amount of additional support provided. We investigate the proportion of working age people (age 15-64 years) in Counties Manukau District Health Board (CMDHB) who obtained at least one packet of subsidised NRT during 2007, and whether this varied by demographic characteristics.

We linked health data in residents of CMDHB aged 15 to 64, using a cross sectional method, to estimate the odds of Maori and Pacific ethnic groups with high smoking prevalence accessing subsidised NRT during 2007 using logistic regression. Demographic variables such as age, gender, other ethnic groups, and socioeconomic deprivation (NZdep) were also included.

Subsidised NRT was infrequently (proportion of 'ever users' 0.5%/year, or about 2.1% of smokers) claimed for in CMDHB in 2007. When adjusted for demographic variables, Pacific peoples were 60% less likely to claim NRT than European (odds ratio 0.34; 95%CI 0.29-0.41), despite a higher prevalence of smoking in the former group. An over four-fold increased use of NRT was observed in those aged 55 to 64 years compared to 15 to 25 year olds.

Dispensing of NRT is low overall in CMDHB. Lowest rates of treatment were observed in younger age groups, men and Pacific and Maori people. Programmes to increase uptake of such treatment in these groups are urgently needed.