The study is targeting rural and regional smokers from NSW, due to the high rates of smoking in some rural communities and the difficulties faced in accessing smoking cessation programs.

The Narromine local government area (LGA) is ranked 35th in Australia (of a total 447 LGAs) for the number of people who smoke, according to the Australian Heart Foundation, with an estimated 1050 people (23.5 people per 100, age-standardised rate) smoking daily in 2014-15.

The study by the University of Newcastle’s Dr Flora Tzelepis is the first of its kind, providing real-time video counselling delivered via Skype, FaceTime or Facebook Messenger, as well telephone and written materials, to smokers in their homes.

“These smoking cessation programs are designed to be accessible to those in rural communities to help them to quit smoking,” Dr Tzelepis said.

“Those who live in rural areas may find it difficult to access face-to-face services, as they may need to travel long distances. The smoking cessation programs offered as part of this study aim to overcome such barriers.”

It is important those wanting to quit had access to smoking cessation programs, Dr Tzelepis said, because of the positive benefits for the person’s overall health, as well as the health system generally.

“Tobacco use causes numerous diseases including coronary heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke, cancers and respiratory diseases,” she said.

“Quitting smoking reduces the risk of tobacco-related disease including among long-term smokers.”

The study is open to anyone aged 18 years or older who smokes cigarettes or uses tobacco every day, has access to a telephone, mode of video-communication and internet, has a current email address and lives in regional or remote NSW.

Visit www.newcastle.edu.au/research-and-innovation/centre/chb/research/video-counselling-to-quit-smoking-in-rural-areas for further details.