The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: This project aimed to provide an evidence based framework that would act as a guide for tobacco control activity to reduce the uptake of smoking in New Zealand. A comprehensive tobacco control programme requires strategies to reduce second hand smoke exposure, support smoking cessation and reduce the number of people taking up smoking. In New Zealand substantial effort over recent years has gone into reducing second hand smoke exposure and promoting smoking cessation. However, interventions aimed at reducing smoking uptake have received significantly less attention.

Methods: Development of the framework involved the establishment of an expert advisory group, a comprehensive literature review and stakeholder consultation. Findings from the literature review were reported in terms of individual smoking related attitudes and behaviours in the context of external influences at the family, peer, community, and population levels.

Results: The framework was completed in early 2005. Priority groups identified within the framework included youth, Maori (the indigenous people of New Zealand), low-decile, Pacific peoples and females. Key objectives proposed within the framework were to up-skill youth to refuse tobacco, reduce affordability and access to tobacco products, denormalise tobacco use in society and increase youth identification with key social institutions. Tobacco product regulation and addressing health determinants were identified as potential objectives for future revisions of the framework.

Development of the Reducing Smoking Initiation Framework is a valuable tool for New Zealand that will aid in fostering collaboration between stakeholders, reduce duplication of effort, and make effective use of available resources.