TY - JOUR
AU - Billie, Bonevski,
AB - This year the Society for Research on Nicotine & Tobacco (SRNT) launched a new chapter, the second in SRNT history. SRNT Oceania (SRNT-O) represents nicotine and tobacco researchers in Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific nations in Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia (Figure 1). The new chapter was announced by SRNT President Jodi Prochaska in January 2018 and is led by the inaugural Board of Billie Bonevski, Acting President; Coral Gartner, Acting Secretary; Andrew Waa, Communications Officer; Natalie Walker, Education Officer; and Sefita Hao’uli, Membership Officer. Figure 1. View largeDownload slide Region covered by SRNT-Oceania.1 Figure 1. View largeDownload slide Region covered by SRNT-Oceania.1 SRNT-O has been guided in its journey to establishment by past and current presidents of SRNT and the SRNT-Europe chapter, including Karl Fagerström, Marcus Munafo, Linda Bauld, Judith Prochaska, and SRNT Executive Director, Bruce Wheeler. The chapter is currently represented on the SRNT Board by Dr Mira Aghi. The Oceania region enjoys a rich cultural and geographical diversity that impacts on tobacco and nicotine use, and tobacco control policy. SRNT-O will provide a voice for researchers and policy makers in the region, advancing and sharing their science and knowledge, and ensuring representation of the region at an international level. SRNT-O will host a number of training and educational initiatives, including webinars and regional conferences across the Oceania region. Where funding allows, travel scholarships will be offered for Indigenous researchers, emerging researchers and members based in low- and middle-income countries within the Oceania region to attend regional meetings. In this way, the chapter hopes to address some of the barriers to participation in Northern hemisphere SRNT activities (eg, time zones often make it difficult to join US-based webinars hosted by SRNT, and for many the long distances and high costs of travel for meetings in the Northern hemisphere are challenging). Despite its small population size, the Oceania region has long been recognized as a leader in tobacco control policy, research and implementation. For example, in 2012 Australia was the first country in the world to implement mandatory plain packaging for cigarettes; New Zealand was one of the first countries in the world to set a smoke-free goal; and in 2017, the small Pacific island nation of Tokelau (population 1500) was presented with a prestigious WHO Tobacco Free Global award for their “Tobacco Free Tokelau 2020” policy. The depth and breadth of research from the region is evident within SRNT’s journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research, including basic science,2 clinical,3 smoking prevalence,4 use of non-smoked nicotine products,5 health communication,6,7 youth,8 mental health,9 pregnant women who smoke,10 non-daily smoking,11 Indigenous health,8,12–15 and policy (eg, endgame scenarios in general and focused topics such as plain packaging,16 health warnings,2 and nicotine reduction17,18). Oceania is unique for its diverse and rich Indigenous cultures within the region. Addressing the disproportionately higher smoking prevalence among Oceania’s Indigenous peoples is a priority, and many people within the region have played a pivotal role in getting Indigenous text into the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention of Tobacco Control.19 Hence, increasing representation, participation and knowledge sharing in SRNT by Indigenous researchers is an important focus of SRNT-O to ensure that nicotine and tobacco research in Oceania is relevant and sensitive to the needs of Indigenous populations in the region. Developing smoking cessation interventions that are based on an understanding of cultural and societal barriers and facilitators to cessation is essential to developing effective and culturally sound interventions. For example, qualitative research in Samoa has highlighted not only the social influences on smoking uptake in this culture, but also the importance of family or “aiga” and church in supporting smoking cessation.20 As in other regions, e-cigarettes and other vaporized nicotine products have been the subject of much debate in Oceania. Access to these devices and nicotine liquid varies across the region. A recent Australian government parliamentary inquiry into the regulation of e-cigarettes concluded with the majority of the committee supporting continuing the sales ban for non-therapeutic nicotine-containing e-cigarettes.21 In contrast, in New Zealand domestic sale of “heated tobacco and vaping products that are manufactured from tobacco” were recently legalized, with the Government currently “considering how best to apply risk-proportionate regulation across all tobacco products including smoked tobacco, smokeless tobacco and vaping products.”22 Local and cross-Oceania research is needed to help policy-makers develop evidence-based responses in their own countries. SRNT-O researchers are leaders in developing this evidence base.5 It is notable that some of the earliest research on e-cigarettes originated from New Zealand,23 and one of the three (and largest) trials of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation was undertaken in New Zealand.24 Other clinical trials involving e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are underway in New Zealand and Australia among both general (NCT02521662, ACTRN12612001210864) and priority population groups (ACTRN12616001355460, ACTRN12617001324303, ACTRN12617000905369, ACTRN12617000849392, ACTRN126 17000232336p, ACTRN12616001641482, ACTRN12616001355 460, ACTRN12614000370606). The SRNT-O Chapter is still in the early stages of formation, and is free to join. To become a member of the new chapter, you first need to be member of SRNT. For researchers in low and middle-income countries, plus students, trainees and retirees, membership fees are substantially reduced (see here for more information: www.srnt.org/default.asp?page=Membership). Once you are a member of SRNT, you can join SRNT-O by ticking the SRNT-O box on the membership form at the time of renewal. The board encourages nicotine and tobacco researchers who are based in the Oceania region, or are based elsewhere but are involved in projects in the region, to become members of the new chapter. We particularly encourage membership amongst researchers and policy makers in the Pacific nations. The formation of an Oceania chapter in SRNT is another demonstration of the Society’s global growth and representation. It also speaks to its commitment to equity and diversity in the field. With significant challenges and exciting developments in the science and policy of world-wide tobacco control, SRNT-O provides another perspective and platform for advancing nicotine and tobacco research. Funding No specific funding was provided for this manuscript. BB was supported by an NHMRC Career Development Fellowship (1063206) and a Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Faculty of Health and Medicine Gladys M Brawn Career Development Fellowship. Declaration of Interests All authors are members of the SRNT-O executive. No other competing interests. References 1. Cruickshanks (Artist) . Map of Oceania [Digital image]. Wikipedia Commons . 2014 . https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid= 30880556. Accessed April 2, 2018. 2. Cochran JR , Kydd RR , Lee JMJ , Walker N , Consedine NS . Disgust but not health anxiety graphic warning labels reduce motivated attention in smokers: a study of p300 and late positive potential responses . Nicotine Tob Res . 2018 ; 20 ( 7 ): 819 – 826 . Google Scholar Crossref Search ADS PubMed 3. Skinner A , Havard A , Tran DT , Jorm LR . Access to subsidized smoking cessation medications by Australian smokers aged 45 years and older: a population-based cohort study . Nicotine Tob Res . 2017 ; 19 ( 3 ): 342 – 350 . Google Scholar PubMed 4. Linhart C , Tukana I , Lin S , et al. Declines and plateaux in smoking prevalence over three decades in Fiji . Nicotine Tob Res . 2016 ; 19 ( 11 ): ntw292 . Google Scholar Crossref Search ADS 5. Tucker MR , Laugesen M , Bullen C , Grace RC . Predicting short-term uptake of electronic cigarettes: effects of nicotine, subjective effects, and simulated demand [published online ahead of print December 20, 2017]. Nicotine Tob Res . doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntx269 . 6. Morphett K , Carter A , Hall W , Lucke J , Partridge B , Gartner C . Do neurobiological understandings of smoking influence quitting self-efficacy or treatment intentions ? Nicotine Tob Res . 2018 ; 20 ( 7 ): 827 – 835 . Google Scholar Crossref Search ADS PubMed 7. Pfeffer D , Wigginton B , Gartner C , Morphett K . Smokers’ understandings of addiction to nicotine and tobacco: a systematic review and interpretive synthesis of quantitative and qualitative research [published online ahead of print August 29, 2017]. Nicotine Tob Res . doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntx186 . 8. Ball J , Sim D , Edwards R . Addressing ethnic disparities in adolescent smoking: Is reducing exposure to smoking in the home a key ? [published online ahead of print March 15, 2018]. Nicotine Tob Res . doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/nty053 . 9. O’Toole BI , Kirk R , Bittoun R , Catts SV . Combat, posttraumatic stress disorder, and smoking trajectory in a cohort of male Australian army Vietnam veterans [published online ahead of print November 17, 2017]. Nicotine Tob Res . doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntx257 . 10. Glover M , Kira A , Smith C . Enlisting “aunties” to support indigenous pregnant women to stop smoking: feasibility study results . Nicotine Tob Res . 2016 ; 18 ( 5 ): 1110 – 1115 . Google Scholar Crossref Search ADS PubMed 11. Robertson L , Iosua E , McGee R , Hancox RJ . Nondaily, low-rate daily, and high-rate daily smoking in young adults: a 17-year follow-up . Nicotine Tob Res . 2016 ; 18 ( 5 ): 943 – 949 . Google Scholar Crossref Search ADS PubMed 12. Thompson-Evans TP , Glover MP , Walker N . Cytisine’s potential to be used as a traditional healing method to help indigenous people stop smoking: a qualitative study with Māori . Nicotine Tob Res . 2011 ; 13 ( 5 ): 353 – 360 . Google Scholar Crossref Search ADS PubMed 13. Johnston V , Westphal DW , Glover M , Thomas DP , Segan C , Walker N . Reducing smoking among indigenous populations: new evidence from a review of trials . Nicotine Tob Res . 2013 ; 15 ( 8 ): 1329 – 1338 . Google Scholar Crossref Search ADS PubMed 14. Kira A , Glover M , Walker N , Bauld L . Recruiting pregnant indigenous women who smoke into a high contact incentivized cessation trial: a feasibility study . Nicotine Tob Res . 2016 ; 18 ( 10 ): 2036 – 2040 . Google Scholar Crossref Search ADS PubMed 15. Walker N , Johnston V , Glover M , et al. Effect of a family-centered, secondhand smoke intervention to reduce respiratory illness in indigenous infants in Australia and New Zealand: a randomized controlled trial . Nicotine Tob Res . 2015 ; 17 ( 1 ): 48 – 57 . Google Scholar Crossref Search ADS PubMed 16. Gendall P , Hoek J , Thomson G , et al. Young adults’ interpretations of tobacco brands: implications for tobacco control . Nicotine Tob Res . 2011 ; 13 ( 10 ): 911 – 918 . Google Scholar Crossref Search ADS PubMed 17. Walker N , Bullen C , McRobbie H . Reduced nicotine content cigarettes: is there potential to aid smoking cessation ? Nicotine Tob Res . 2009 ; 11 ( 11 ): 1274 – 1279 . Google Scholar Crossref Search ADS PubMed 18. Tucker MR , Laugesen M , Grace RC . Estimating demand and cross-price elasticity for very low nicotine content (VLNC) cigarettes using a simulated demand task . Nicotine Tob Res . 2018 ; 20 ( 4 ): 528 . Google Scholar Crossref Search ADS PubMed 19. World Health Organisation . WHO framework convention on tobacco control . WHO Press . 2005 ; 1 ( 3 ): 270 – 271 . 20. Tanielu H , McCool J , Umali E , Whittaker R . Samoan smokers talk about smoking and quitting: a focus group study [published online ahead of print June 29, 2017]. Nicotine Tob Res . doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntx152 . 21. Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia . Report on the Inquiry into the Use and Marketing of Electronic Cigarettes and Personal Vaporisers in Australia . Canberra, Australia: Australian Government ; 2018 . http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/committees/reportrep/ 024115/toc_pdf/ReportontheInquiryintotheUseandMarketing ofElectronicCigarettesandPersonalVaporisersinAustralia.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf. Accessed April 2, 2018. 22. Ministry of Health New Zealand . Vaping, smokeless, including heated tobacco . 2018 . www.health.govt.nz/our-work/preventative-health-wellness/tobacco-control/vaping-smokeless-including-heated-tobacco. Accessed April 2, 2018. 23. Bullen C , McRobbie H , Thornley S , Glover M , Lin R , Laugesen M . Effect of an electronic nicotine delivery device (e cigarette) on desire to smoke and withdrawal, user preferences and nicotine delivery: randomised cross-over trial . Tob Control . 2010 ; 19 ( 2 ): 98 – 103 . Google Scholar Crossref Search ADS PubMed 24. Bullen C , Howe C , Laugesen M , et al. Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation: a randomised controlled trial . Lancet . 2013 ; 382 ( 9905 ): 1629 – 1637 . Google Scholar Crossref Search ADS PubMed © The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com. 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TI - Introducing the SRNT Oceania Chapter
JF - Nicotine and Tobacco Research
DO - 10.1093/ntr/nty118
DA - 2018-09-25
UR - https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/oxford-university-press/introducing-the-srnt-oceania-chapter-0gqByoZIU0
SP - 1289
VL - 20
IS - 11
DP - DeepDyve
ER -