Prof Robert West

Department of Epidemiology and Public Health
University College London
London

Helping people to quit smoking

Professor Robert West is Director of Tobacco Studies at the Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre. He analyses smoking trends in the population to find out how many people smoke and how many are giving up. Smoking is a major cause of many different types of cancer, including lung cancer and oesophageal cancer. Professor West's research could have a dramatic impact on the number of cancer cases in the future and help to save even more lives.

Professor West is also investigating how people successfully quit smoking and is leading studies to evaluate new 'Stop Smoking' aids. Because of his expertise in this area, Professor West acts as one of the Government's leading advisors on smoking-related policy and Stop Smoking Services provided by the NHS.

Finding out about smoking patterns

Professor West conducts national surveys to monitor smoking patterns across the UK. These surveys record things like how often smokers try to quit, which different forms of help they use (such as NHS services or nicotine replacement therapy) and the number of smokers that successfully give up. He has already found that about 40-50% of smokers try to stop at least once a year.

He also carries out interviews to find out what motivates people to quit smoking and why people relapse after they have given up. This information can be used to inform media campaigns that promote quitting smoking. This knowledge is also useful to NHS Stop Smoking Services as they can be sure to adopt the best approach so that more people are likely to succeed in their attempt to give up.

Quitting aids on trial

Professor West also tests promising new 'Stop Smoking' aids. He is leading a large-scale trial to monitor whether a new low-cost drug, Cytisine, can help people quit.

He is also running trials to look at whether light exercise can help reduce people's withdrawal symptoms and cravings. And he's investigating whether smokers who find it particularly hard to stop can do better if they're supported to cut down gradually first. The results of these studies will make it possible for even more people to successfully quit smoking in the future.