A trial which offers smokers the chance to try nicotine replacement therapy whether they want to quit or not has attracted more than 250 people.
For the last month University of Otago Wellington has been offering smokers visiting the Queensgate Mall in Lower Hutt a range of nicotine replacement therapies under the guidance of an expert coach.
The trial is now extending, with stalls opening at North City Mall in Porirua today and Palmerston North and Manawatu next month. Lead researcher Dr Brent Caldwell said that in the first month 256 smokers had been keen to try the products and experience first-hand the benefits of nicotine replacement therapy and become more confident in their ability to quit smoking.
"We've had smokers who aren't particularly interested in quitting but just want to see what the products are like, and we've also had smokers who have already quit recently but are finding it hard to stay quit, and would like to try new products to give them extra help."
Smokers were encouraged to return to the stalls regularly over the following five months to receive further nicotine replacement therapy and encouragement.
