The Pfizer Challenge

Pfizer applies science and global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives.  In June of 2015, Pfizer and the American Lung Association® launched a mobile app and online community called Quitter’s Circle®2,3.  Quitting smoking is difficult. Around 68 percent of all smokers say they want to quit, and 40 percent will make an attempt to quit this year5 but it takes a smoker 6 to 11 quit attempts before they are completely smokefree6.  The intent of Quitter’s Circle® is to help smokers quit through educational, social and financial support. Continued research is needed to determine if technology solutions can assist smokers in their quit journey.

Your analysis should address one or more of the following questions:

·          How can technology play a proactive and supportive role in assisting patients to quit smoking?

·          What are the attributes of the users that are most likely to leverage technology to assist in quitting smoking?

·          What is the cost to society of smoking?

·          What are some of the unexpected consequences of smoking?

·          What are some of the barriers for people trying to quit smoking?

Footnotes:

1.   http://www.pfizer.com/files/health/VoM_SmokingCessation.pdf

2.   http://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/new_online_community_quitter_s_circle_helps_smokers_trade_cigarettes_for_real_time_support

3.   https://www.quitterscircle.com/

4.   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5004566/

5.   https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fast_facts/index.htm

6.   Department of Health and Human Services. Women and Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Services, Office of the Surgeon General, 2001.

Developed by the American Lung Association and Pfizer, Quitter’s Circle is a registered trademark of Pfizer Inc.

Data

PFIZER DATA FILES

ADDITIONAL DATA RESOURCES

·          The 2017 WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemiccontains a wealth of background information about the disease

·           

·          The National Adult Tobacco Surveyfrom the CDC allows you to assess the prevalence of tobacco use, as well as the factors promoting and impeding tobacco use among adults

·           

·          Smoking Facts from the American Lung Association® offers quick facts about smoking and health