It is estimated that 18 in every 100 people in the Bowral area are smokers, well above the national average of 16.1.
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The data, collected by the Australian Heart Foundation, also indicated that there were a total of 5731 smokers in the Wingecarribee in 2014/15.
In response to this, a new study has started o help Highlanders quit smoking.
The study, run by Dr Flora Tzelepisa and assistant researcher Emma Byrnes from the School of Medicine and Public Health from the University of Newcastle, aims to assist in smoking cessation support.
“People living in rural and regional towns face many barriers to healthcare,” Miss Byrne said.
“It is apparent that smoking cessation may be more difficult for rural and regional people based on their geographical location, access to health facilities and cost.”
Dr Tzelepis and Miss Byrne will be running the first study to examine the effectiveness of real-time video counselling delivered via Skype or Face Time to smokers in their homes in regional and remote areas.
The results will then be compared with those using Quitline telephone counselling or written materials.
In June 2016 the project received $592,000 in funding from the NSW Government.
“Video counselling may strengthen the rapport between the advisor and smoker, and for smokers who live in regional and remote areas it eliminates the need to travel long distances to access face-to-face support,” Dr Tzelepis said.
“If found to be effective, national and international Quitlines could adopt video counselling as part of their routine services.”
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics In 2014-15, 14.5% of adults aged 18 years and over were daily smokers (2.6 million adults), down from 16.1% in 2011-12.
This decrease is a continuation of the trend over the past two decades. In 2001, 22.4% of adults smoked daily while 23.8% of adults smoked daily in 1995.
Dr Tzelepis and Miss Byrne have appealed top people in the community to get involved.
Madeline Crittenden
Madeline Crittenden is a journalist for Fairfax Media at the South Coast Register.
Madeline Crittenden is a journalist for Fairfax Media at the South Coast Register.
