The Yorkshire Enhanced Stop Smoking Study

The Yorkshire Enhanced Stop Smoking Study (YESS) is testing the effect of addition personalised risk information derived from the Low-Dose CT scan to the smoking cessation intervention for current smokers attending for CT screening. Patients in the study will be visited 4 weeks after their Lung Health Check by a member of the YESS Smoking Cessation Practitioner team usually at home. The intervention group will receive personalised feedback including images from their CT scan showing emphysema or coronary artery calcification (where present) as evidence of possibly smoking-induced damage to their heart and lungs. The control group will receive usual care.

What will happen if patients are worried about their personalised feedback images?
The smoking cessation practitioners delivering the personalised feedback will be specifically trained in the interpretation and significance of the scan findings. All study patients will be offered the opportunity of a telephone consultation with a Respiratory Consultant to discuss their personalised feedback if this causes concern. In order not to bias the analysis of the study results, we will not communicate to GPs whether or not the patient is taking part in the YESS study.

What if patients seek GP advice about the presence of emphysema or coronary artery calcification on their scans?
The presence of emphysema or coronary artery calcification in itself should not alter patient management. All patients with newly diagnosed COPD will be referred to the Community Respiratory Team. Other than encouraging smoking cessation, the presence of emphysema on CT scan does not require any specific treatment. Any patient with ischaemic sounding chest pain will be advised to see their GP for further assessment irrespective of the scan result. There is no current UK guidance that includes Coronary Artery Calcification as a factor in determining provision of primary prevention for Ischaemic Heart Disease. NICE recommends that any patient with a QRISK-2 score of ≥10% should be offered Atorvastatin as primary prevention.

Who can I contact about the study?
For further information about the study or if there are any queries please contact

Information about the trial design is available at the following website http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN63825779