title: Impact of the 2010 tobacco tax increase in Australia on short-term smoking cessation: a continuous tracking survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To use population-level data to monitor the impact on smoking cessation activity of the April 2010 Australian tobacco tax increase.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Cancer Institute NSW [New South Wales] Tobacco Tracking Survey (CITTS) is a continuous tracking telephone survey conducting about 50 interviews per week. Data from February to September in 2009 and 2010 were analysed (ie, data on people who quit smoking in the 3 months before and 5 months after the tax increase in 2010 were compared, and quitting activity over the same period in 2009 was also analysed).
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult smokers and smokers who had stopped smoking in the previous 12 months; 2009 (n = 1604); 2010 (n = 1699).
  
  
  METHODS
  Recent quitting (defined as stopping smoking or trying to quit within a 1-month period).
  
  
  RESULTS
  22% of the sample reported that they had quit smoking in May 2010, compared with 13% in April 2010 and 12% in May 2009. Respondents interviewed in the 3 months after the tax increase (May-July) were significantly more likely to report quitting than those interviewed in the 3 months before the tax increase (odds ratio, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.26-2.69; P < 0.01). This increase in quitting activity was not sustained in the subsequent months (August-September).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The tobacco tax increase was associated with a short-term increase in the rate of smoking cessation among NSW adult smokers and recent quitters, suggesting that regular increases in tobacco tax may further encourage quitting activity.
authors: Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW. sallyd@health.usyd.edu.au
authors: Sally M
authors: SM
authors: Dunlop
authors: Trish F
authors: TF
authors: Cotter
authors: Donna A
authors: DA
authors: Perez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013660:Taxes; D055815:Young Adult; D014026:Nicotiana