Time To Quit Smoking, Says BUPA, UK

Main Category: Smoking / Quit Smoking
Article Date: 06 Jan 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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Keeping the toughest New Year's resolution of them all could be made a little easier for Facebook users this year thanks to a new application - the Bupa 'QuitClock'. Bupa has exclusively designed this new application to both help and encourage any potential ex-smoker to give up cigarettes.

QuitClock is a Facebook application that not only helps track the time since the last cigarette was smoked but also offers an at a glance view on how much money has been saved. By using Facebook, Bupa enables users to also draw on the online support of friends and family to track progress and leave messages of support.

Two-thirds of smokers start before the age of 18, and smoking is highest among 20 to 24 year olds. By engaging users of this popular social networking site, Bupa hopes to target the most prolific group of smokers.

Along with losing weight, the top New Year's resolutions each year are to stop smoking and to save money. Whilst resolutions can be very hard to keep, Quitclock encourages users with a week by week approach plus the added support and encouragement from their nearest and dearest.

"Seven out of ten smokers want to give up, but it isn't an easy process," explains Dr Annabel Bentley, Bupa Assistant Medical Director. "By installing Quitclock, ex-smokers can keep track of their progress and get positive feedback and support of their friends which should encourage them to keep going."

Alastair McQueen, senior health editor at Bupa who led the project, explained: "Quitclock is the first Facebook application Bupa has released. It's a new way to engage people who use social networking sites and who want to stop smoking."

People who stopped smoking in the past can backdate the clock to see how much they have saved since they quit. "I personally stopped smoking around eight months ago. It's really satisfying to see Quitclock tallying up the money I have saved." Alastair adds.

Quitclock is freely available to install on your Facebook profile at http://apps.facebook.com/quitclock, or search for "Quitclock" on Facebook.

Source
Eileen Scott
Bupa Corporate Communications
http://www.bupa.com

Notes

1. Around 10 million people, one sixth of UK population, smoke.
2. Around a half of all regular smokers will be die early.
3. Two-thirds of smokers start before the age of 18.
4. Smoking is highest among 20 to 24 year olds.

Smoking statistics. ASH. http://www.ash.org.uk/files/documents/ASH_93.pdf , accessed 10 December 2007

Smoking ban will boost smokers' resolve to quit. Don't wait for the ban - do it now!. ASH. http://www.ash.org.uk/ash_qzxby0r4.htm , accessed December 10 2007

Bupa is the UK market leader in health and care with a strong international presence. Established in 1947, it has around 10 million customers in almost 200 countries and more than 49,000 employees. Its main interests are health insurance, care homes for older people and young disabled, health assessments, workplace health and childcare services. Bupa Travel offers a bespoke travel insurance service. Sanitas in Spain, MBF, HBA, Mutual Community in Australia and DCA Agedcare in Australia and New Zealand, IHI in Denmark and Health Dialog in the US are all part of the Bupa Group which also has centres in Hong-Kong, Thailand and Saudi Arabia. Bupa is a company limited by guarantee and does not have a share capital. As a result, it can focus on its customers, helping them to live longer, healthier lives and can reinvest all of its profits to do this - this is the dividend that Bupa provides.

ASH