title: The prevalence of and factors associated with the use of smoking cessation medication in Korea: trend between 2005-2011.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Korea, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) has been widely used in government-led, public health center-based smoking cessation services since 2004 and varenicline has become available from 2007 but without reimbursement. In this study which used a series of nationwide cross-sectional surveys in Korea performed from 2005 to 2011, we examined the prevalence of smoking cessation medication use and factors associated with it.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed data from the third to fifth waves of Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005-2011). Prevalence of each smoking cessation method use was calculated for each year, and its secular trend was tested by multivariate logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among smokers who made quit attempt during the previous year, 15.7% had used smoking cessation medications,15.3% had used NRT, and 0.7% had used prescription medication. There was a significant increasing trend for NRT use (P<0.001) during the study period, but use of prescription medication did not show any increase over time (P = 0.654) Education on smoking prevention and cessation was associated with smoking cessation medications use (OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.58-2.75).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While the use of NRT has increased over years through government-sponsored smoking cessation programs, use of prescription drugs remained very low and flat probably due to lack of reimbursement. Education of smokers about effective smoking cessation methods and change in reimbursement policy are suggested to stimulate evidence-based smoking cessation practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea ; Center for Health Promotion and Optimal Aging, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea ; Cancer survivorship clinic, Seoul National University Cancer Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Wook
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Beomseok
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Sohyun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Juhee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Sang Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Seok Joong
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Bumjo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Belong
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D061485:Tobacco Use Cessation Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data