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Smokers wanted for trial of revolutionary new device

08/01/2009
-to help people quit smoking.
 
The revolutionary new device ‘Six and Out’ was invented by Tom Rowley, a retired plumber from Staffordshire. He believes his invention could offer an alternative to other smoking cessation products.
 
Tom was inspired to create the device to support his friends and family who were consistently unsuccessful in kicking the habit. Tom worked with many organisations to refine the product, which has included comprehensive laboratory tests to ensure that it is fit for user trials.
 
Tom approached The Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust’s Centre for Healthcare Innovation and Development (CHID) to help him develop his invention further. It is now set to be tested in a clinical trial by experts at the Centre for Health and Social Care Improvement (CHSCI) at the University.
 
Dr Christopher Barnes, Research Fellow at the University of Wolverhampton, said: “We are looking for up to 80 smokers who have previously tried and failed to successfully kick the habit and who are not currently part of any ongoing NHS smoking cessation course. The only other requirement to take part in this study is that smokers must be using cigarettes and not, for example, cigars or rollups. The trials will begin in January 2009 and continue until the required number of smokers have all completed the trial.”
 
Yvonne Hague, Research & Development Directorate Manager at the Hospital, said: “I am excited about this innovation as it aims to actively reduce addiction without any chemical simulation or replacement. We have now commissioned an independent clinical trial to be conducted with human subjects and this will be run by the Centre for Health and Social Care Improvement (CHSCI) at the University of Wolverhampton.”
 
Professor David Sallah, Director of Research, Ethics and Consultancy at the University of Wolverhampton’s School of Health, said: “This study is critical, as it targets those smokers in the community who really want to give up smoking, who are addicted to nicotine and who need to enhance their will power by breaking the smoking habit. It is hoped that smokers who use this new device will go on to significantly reduce the amount of cigarettes they smoke or even stop completely over the course of the trial period.”
 
The device itself does not require participants to stop smoking immediately. Instead, it requires them to attach a cigarette holder to the inhalation end of the cigarette. When used, the device allows air to pass through one or more vents which in turn allows different amounts of air to be inhaled rather than just through the cigarette itself. As participants progress through the trial, they will be given variations of the same device which have an increasing number of vents which in turn reduce the amount of air inhaled directly through the cigarette.
 
People who would like to find out more information about taking part in this study can contact Dr Barnes to see whether they meet the entry requirements for the study.
 
Contact for the study:
Dr Christopher Barnes
University of Wolverhampton
Centre for Health & Social Care Improvement
Tel: (01902) 518643

Further information

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