Smokers are being offered a unique opportunity to take
part in a research trial at the University of Wolverhampton to test
the benefits of a new device 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
