Author: hollenback

UW-CTRI Partners with Epic, GHC to Help Patients Quit Smoking

The Wisconsin State Journal wrote about how Epic software is prompting GHC staff to contact patients who smoke and offer help to quit. It’s part of a seven-year, $6.1 million R35 federal grant from the National Institutes of Health to UW-CTRI Director Dr. Michael Fiore. The goal of the grant is to overcome barriers to …

Researchers Encourage Examination of Genotypes in Clinical Trials

In an era of individualized treatment for patients through “precision medicine,” collecting biological data and integrating analysis within the outcomes of clinical trials has gained a newfound importance. A new paper in Nicotine and Tobacco Research outlines a framework that offers practical advice to help do that. “It’s clear that patients do not respond to …

Study Ahead of Schedule, Health Counselors’ Experience Shows

UW-CTRI is ahead of schedule enrolling patients in the Quitting Using Intensive Treatments Study (QUITS). More than 580 smokers have enrolled with the goal set at 1000. Experienced health counselors are helping these patients to quit smoking. UW-CTRI Research Director Dr. Tim Baker and UW Cardiologist Dr. Jim Stein serve as Principal Investigators of the …

Innovative Study Helps Smokers Practice Quitting

UW-CTRI has completed recruitment for a pilot study designed to encourage participants to practice the act of quitting smoking for up to a day at a time, then return to smoking by only puffing every 30 seconds without inhaling. “The whole idea behind this paced puffing is that we want them to practice quitting, but …

Interagency Committee in Washington, D.C. Addresses Smoking and Behavioral Health

United States Surgeon General Jerome Adams (above left) and UW-CTRI Director Dr. Michael Fiore discuss how to help people with behavioral health challenges to quit smoking. At the meeting June 14 in Washington, D.C., scholars discussed research, treatments, and public health campaigns designed to help address the fact that people with behavioral health challenges smoke …

National Smoking Rate Down to 13.9%, Yet Much Work Remains

The CDC National Center for Health Statistics released estimates from the National Health Interview Survey showing that 13.9 percent of US adults were cigarette smokers in 2017, the lowest level ever recorded by the survey (which began in 1957). This represents a significant decline from 15.8% in 2016. It is important to note that these …

More Gum + Patches Meant Better Chances

According to research by Dr. Tanya Schlam and colleagues at UW-CTRI, smokers who used more nicotine gum (up to 5 pieces a day) with nicotine patches tended to have higher quit rates: 59% had quit smoking at 6 months. The findings are published in the journal Psychopharmacology: https://rdcu.be/MCsU

Outreach Specialists Inspire Smiles 

From Left: Jenna Otterholt of Tobacco Free Coalition of Central Wisconsin, UW-CTRI Senior Outreach Specialist Roger Dier, and UW-CTRI Outreach Specialist Alex Peeters spoke May 11 at a Seal-a-Smile event in Marshfield. They addressed approximately 60 dental professionals regarding tobacco addiction and referral resources to help people of various ages to quit smoking. “The crowd …

Former Smoker Enjoys Sunny Outlook 

When Jeff Petersik decided to quit smoking by making a call to the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line, he knew it was long overdue. “I had been smoking for over 10 years, and I was getting sick more often,” said Petersik, a Milwaukee resident. “So it was mainly for my health. I wanted to live longer …

UW-CTRI Staff Share Findings at UW Department of Medicine Research Day 

UW-CTRI staff and collaborators presented research findings at the University of Wisconsin Department of Medicine (DOM) Research Day June 15 at the Health Sciences Learning Center on the UW campus in Madison. This included an oral presentation by UW-CTRI Associate Director of Research Dr. Danielle McCarthy and five posters. Here’s a rundown: Presentation Dr. Danielle …