London - Men are better at giving up smoking - even though women are keener to quit, a study has found.
The researchers believe that women may find it harder to kick the habit because their confidence in quitting is lower - and because tobacco plays a different role in their lives.
And although many female smokers give up while pregnant, they often start again once the child is born.
Meanwhile, older smokers were better at quitting than younger ones, the study found.
Researchers looked at studies from between 1990 and 2007 to work out the success rates for NHS schemes to help people stop.
Fewer smokers looked to the NHS for help in quitting in disadvantaged areas (52.6 percent) than elsewhere (57.9 percent), although the proportion of those treated for smoking related illnesses was higher.
But those from poorer areas were slightly more successful in giving up.
The analysis was carried out by scientists from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and from the UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies.
“The UK remains the only country in the world to have a comprehensive, free-at- the-point-of-use cessation services - and the study suggests these services do provide effective support for smokers who want to quit,” the research team said.
But, they added, “more innovative cessation interventions” are required for some specific groups of smokers. - Daily Mail