# The Acceptability of a Tobacco Dependency Treatment for NHS Staff in the North East of England: A Mixed-Methods Study

## TL;DR

This study evaluated how acceptable a tobacco dependency treatment was for NHS staff in the North East of England, finding it highly acceptable and offering insights for future services.

## Contribution

This is the first known use of the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability to evaluate a smoking cessation intervention.

## Key findings

- Sixty-eight survey responses showed high acceptability of the tobacco dependency treatment service.
- Four themes emerged: service familiarity, ease of access, suitability of NRT/E-liquid ordering, and behavioral support.
- User experiences provided recommendations for improving future tobacco dependency services.

## Abstract

Aims: High smoking rates and deprivation levels in the North East of England have led to an opportunity to pilot a tobacco dependency treatment offer for NHS (National Health Service) staff who smoke, to make a supported quit attempt. The direct and indirect benefits to staff, patients, and NHS organisations are well documented. This study aimed to evaluate service acceptability. Methods: The service included up to 12 weeks of free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and/or a refillable e-cigarette, motivational support, and premium access to the Smoke-Free app. The service evaluation used a mixed-methods design, combining the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA) questionnaire and semi-structured interviews with staff who had accessed the offer. The quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data via thematic analysis. Results: Sixty-eight survey responses reflected high acceptability and revealed four themes relating to the service familiarity and ease of access, suitability of the NRT/E-liquid ordering service, the vape kit, and behavioural support. Conclusions: The service was deemed highly acceptable, and service users’ experiences informed recommendations for improving future tobacco dependency services. This is the first known application of the TFA to an evaluation of a smoking cessation intervention, and it contributes to a broader body of research on reducing tobacco dependency.