Quit attempts and cessation support among people who smoke cigarettes non-daily compared with daily: a population study in Great Britain

INTRODUCTION: An increasing proportion of adults in Great Britain who smoke cigarettes do not smoke every day. This study examined whether people smoking non-daily differ from those smoking daily in their quitting behaviour, use of support, and quit success. METHODS: We analysed cross-sectional (n=18,845) and prospective (n=2,648) data from a population study of adults who smoke cigarettes in Great Britain conducted 2020-2026. Smoking frequency was categorised as non-daily/daily. Outcomes included quit attempts in the past 12 months (cross-sectional) and during 12-month follow-up (prospective), characteristics of the most recent attempt (planned/unplanned; abrupt/gradual), use of evidence-based cessation support, and quit success. Logistic regression models adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, year, and other relevant covariates. RESULTS: Participants who smoked non-daily were more likely than those who smoked daily to report a quit attempt, both cross-sectionally (adjusted OR [aOR]=1.27[95%CI=1.17-1.39]) and prospectively (aOR=1.45[1.14-1.84]). Among those who tried to quit, attempts were similarly likely to be planned or abrupt. Overall use of evidence-based cessation support, and e-cigarette use specifically, was similar between groups; however, those who smoked non-daily were less likely to report using prescription nicotine replacement therapy (cross-sectional aOR=0.55[0.38-0.81]; prospective aOR=0.27[0.12-0.64]). There was no clear evidence that adults who smoked non-daily were more or less likely to achieve quit success after full adjustment (aOR=1.10[0.71-1.71]). CONCLUSIONS: Adults who smoke non-daily appear more likely to attempt quitting than those who smoke daily. Once an attempt is made, their approach, use of support, and short-term success are broadly similar, although those smoking non-daily report lower uptake of prescription pharmacotherapy.