Smoking Cessation in BCP and Dorset
We focused our project on men of working age in manual/unskilled jobs as they have the lowest take up of current smoking cessation offers in the areas of Blandford, Shaftesbury, Poole Old Town and Boscombe/Springbourne.
Our project aimed to better understand the needs, barriers and challenges faced when accessing support to quit smoking to ensure that stop smoking services are more inclusive, effective, and accessible for all.
What we did
To reach manual workers, we distributed promotional materials across BCP and Dorset in community hubs like pubs, cafés, and bookmakers. We engaged with participants through 18 telephone interviews, and 18 face to face interviews in pubs, and 2 case studies. Notably, 97.2% of participants identified as manual or routine workers.
What we found
Most participants (81%) had previously attempted to quit smoking, with challenges including medication side effects, patch discomfort, and dual use of vapes with cigarettes. A significant majority (31 of 36) expressed interest in using local support services, recommending promotion through social media, community hubs, and high traffic outdoor locations.
“I used a vape for a few months but then went back to cigarettes, as I ended up doing both.”
“I gave up twice for health reasons. The third time I gave up for 3 years but then I experienced a trauma and went back to smoking.”
Can you share a positive experience where your accessibility needs were well accommodated?
"My dentist is based at The Browning Centre, and they have a very accessible building. They are very good and are used to accommodating clients who are wheelchair users.
My rehab treatment at Salisbury was also really good and the staff there are very informative.
I must also praise the amazing occupational therapists that I’ve had who have helped connect me to the different services I require. They have helped me so much!"
Barriers when accessing services
Participants identified several barriers to accessing stop smoking services:
- Financial & Logistical - Limited income makes travel and service costs difficult, with many requesting free vapes or medication.
- Accessibility - Reliance on public transport and limited mobility are significant hurdles.
- Time Constraints - Fulltime, irregular working hours leave little spare time for appointments.
- Personal Factors - Success is often tied to individual willpower and a genuine internal desire to quit.
“A lot of it is person centred, it’s more to do with me rather than services that are available.”
Recommendations
Here are the core recommendations for improving local stop smoking services:
- Improved Marketing - Expand advertising to social media, tobacco points of sale, and bus stop billboards to reach more people.
- Website Accessibility - Ensure GP websites feature stop smoking information on the homepage or within a single click.
- Pharmacy Visibility - Distribute large, dedicated posters to pharmacies to replace small or hidden displays.
- Holistic & Mental Support - Use practitioners to address emotional triggers and stress through cognitive reframing and mindfulness strategies.
- Peer Support - Offer group sessions so users can share experiences and overcome hurdles together.
- Long-term Tools - Teach stress management techniques to prevent future relapses.
“Support of peers would help.”
Next steps
We are working with the Public Health team to improve communication, marketing and promotion of stop smoking services.
"The work Healthwatch Dorset have completed for us has been valuable and informative, helping us understand where smoking services are reaching the right people and gaps where we might not be. This will help to inform our commissioning intentions moving forwards."
Sarah Long, Senior Health Programme Advisor, Public Health
Interview with Adam
Adam works as a gardener in the Boscombe and Springbourne area. Here’s what he had to say:
How long have you been smoking?
"I was 15 years old when I started smoking, so it’s been 35 years now."
Why did you start smoking?
"It was basically something to try. People around me were smoking, so I just wanted to give it a go."
Is smoking still as enjoyable now as it was when you first started smoking?
"I think it’s actually more enjoyable now. There are molecules in tobacco that act as a stimulate, so it has an effect on my brain. When I’m smoking, I am able to focus and concentrate more. It also helps me to relax."
What would make you consider quitting?
"Health reasons are the main factor that would make me think about quitting. I have poor circulation, and I have had a DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) in the past. The smoking probably isn’t helping with that."
Have you ever tried quitting?
"I tried quitting a while ago and I managed it for a few weeks but then I ended up going back to smoking. I guess I just missed it."
Was there a method that felt more effective?
"For me I just stopped on my own. Vapes weren’t around then and stop smoke services weren’t so available. At the time I wasn’t interested in using gum or patches."
What worries or concerns do you have about the process of quitting?
"I don’t think I have any worries or concerns as such. It just needs to be the right time for me to stop."
What would encourage you to use local community stop smoke services?
"The services need to be easily available and budget friendly."
If you could design the perfect stop-smoking service, what would it look like?
"I think a more holistic service would work well. It’s important to build people up and to enhance their confidence. People will then have more trust in themselves and have more of a determination when it comes to quitting. When you are quitting you need to focus on the level below the problem. If you focus solely on the problem itself, then you're not going to resolve it."
"Everything seems to be phone based nowadays, so an app could be incorporated into the stop-smoking service, so people have additional support at hand if they need it. The app could also help people with their independence, so they are not overly reliant on other people. It’s important to build yourself up, do things for yourself and be strong in who you are. If you believe in yourself, then that gives you power over the habit."
What kind of support would help you to quit smoking?
"There would need to be a service available that empowers me and gives me the freedom and control to beat the addiction. I want to have power over the substance. The way I operate is very conceptual. A type of low-level coaching service might support me well."
How do you see your life if you were no longer a smoker?
"I think I would be a lot fitter. If I were fitter, then I would be more inclined to go out for a run or a long walk."
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