SINCE the early 2000s, anti-smoking campaigns have been carried out in order to encourage Malaysians to quit smoking.
From displaying graphic images on cigarette packets to the Ministry of Health's 'Tak Nak' campaign, these efforts were meant to show the hazards of smoking.
According to medical practitioner Dr Nur Khaisiyah Othman, these anti-smoking methods emphasise one common message, 'Quit or die'.
While acknowledging the studies behind the dangers of smoking, she believes that these fear-mongering tactics do not work to help the public to stop smoking.
"The authorities aren't wrong. The hazards of smoking, both on smokers and those around them are well documented. The deaths of an estimated eight million people a year is a testament to this.
"It's just that this 'Quit or die' approach just doesn't work. It didn't work in the 1980s or the 1990s and it is certainly not working now.
"Statistics have shown that despite the scare tactics and numerous regulations introduced to curb smoking habits, smoking rates in Malaysia remain stagnant in the past decade with little success in reduction," said Dr Khaisiyah.
Convincing smokers to quit cold turkey is not effective either. She explains that this will lead to withdrawal symptoms and some temporary physical side effects like sweating, constipation and restlessness, among others.
"One 2004 paper published in the United States National Library of Medicine indicates that just 3 per cent to 5 per cent of those who try to quit smoking on their own succeed in abstaining from lighting up for six to 12 months. This is not an encouraging figure.
"The logical thing to do if we are really interested in getting people to quit smoking is to follow the science."
CHOOSE ALTERNATIVE MEANS
Dr Khaisiyah says there is a growing number of public health experts and health authorities who recognise the less harmful profile of vaping and its effectiveness to get smokers to quit smoking.
"To me, this means getting people to opt for safer alternatives such as vaping.
"But let's be clear — vaping is not without risks, but the growing scientific evidence that it is less harmful compared to cigarettes is undeniable," she clarifies.
Based on a 2021 Cochrane review, the gold standard for evidence-based healthcare, 61 studies stated that vaping with nicotine e-liquid is more effective in helping people to stop smoking compared to other alternatives such as nicotine replacement therapy, smoking patches or gum.
"It is high time that we try new approaches, backed by good science and data in our quest to help people stop smoking. We owe it to them and their families. We need to move forward with open minds and stop trying methods that simply do not work." said Dr Khaisiyah.
Dr. Nur Khaisiyah Othman is a medical practitioner who graduated from Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University. She has experience in various medical disciplines throughout her service in public hospitals. She also worked in the Department of Anaesthesiology and treated Covid-19 level 5 patients.