Science

Smokers more likely to stop if they know age of lungs

by William Atkins

Tuesday, 25 March 2008

Page 2 of 2

Of those subjects returning, 13.6% of the smokers, which had been told of their “lung age,” had quit smoking.

However, of the smokers than had not been told of the “lung age” only 6.4% had stopped smoking.

All subjects were given saliva cotinine tests to verify their claims.

The different in the actual age of the subjects versus their “lung age” did not seem to affect the rate of smoking cessation.

The researches concluded that “Telling smokers their lung age significantly improves the likelihood of them quitting smoking, but the mechanism by which this intervention achieves its effect is unclear.”

Gary Parkes, one of the researchers in the study stated, "Presentation of information in an understandable and visual way, whether the news is positive or negative, seems to encourage higher levels of successful smoking cessation than when patients are given feedback that is not easily understandable.”

Parkes went on to say that understandable feedback on “lung age” might be a useful way for physicians and other medical professionals to “tailor smoking cessation messages to the individual.” [WebMD: “'Lung Age' Shocks Smokers Into Stopping”]

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