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Description
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Smoking continues to be the leading cause of preventable illness, death and health inequalities in the UK ( GRIFT,2021). In 2022, 12.9% of people aged 18 years and over smoked in the UK (ONS, 2022). In England, around 74,600 deaths were attributed to smoking in 2019 (ONS, 2022). Smoking harms nearly every organ in the body, increasing the risk of various cancers, respiratory diseases, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, eye disease and dementia. Smoking in pregnancy is also a significant risk for a range of poor outcomes including miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, neonatal complications, low birth weight and sudden infant death syndrome. It is also closely associated with poor mental health (OHID,2022). Smoking has a significant economic impact in England costing, £17.3 billion annually, with a major financial burden on the NHS and Social care. Smoking-related hospital admissions and primary care treatments cost £1.9 billion per year. Smoking also causes £14 billion in productivity losses due to unemployment, reduced earnings, and premature deaths (ASH, 2023).
Over 500,000 hospital admissions are directly attributed to smoking in England ( PHE, 2020). One in four patients in a hospital bed is a smoker and smokers also see their GP 35% more than non-smokers (PHE, 2017). Doctors are expected to protect, promote and maintain the health, safety and wellbeing of the public, including smoking cessation ( GMC ). Adults admitted to the hospital overnight and identified as smokers are offered Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) in the hospital, and then referred to a community step-down provider (usually the local Stop Smoking Service) upon discharge. But, uptake for this additional support is low due to the local availability of services or personal circumstances (busy lifestyle, caring responsibilities). Digital technologies provide an opportunity to reach a large population of people with smoking cessation support. Digital technologies for smoking cessation may be able to provide behavioural and motivational support and advice to quit smoking and reduce tobacco dependence.
In this early value assessment, NICE will identify and evaluate innovative digital technologies for smoking cessation in secondary care patients. It will review the evidence that is available and assess the potential clinical and cost-effectiveness of the technologies, as well as identify evidence gaps to help direct evidence generation. |