Abstinence from smoking eight years after participation in randomised controlled trial of nicotine patch.

was supported by a grant from NHSE South West Research and Development Directorate. Contributors: PK was the principal investigator and was responsible for project design, data collection, advice on analysis, delivery of training, and drafting the paper. DH was responsible for project design, data collection, liaison with paramedics, delivery of training, and drafting the paper. LP was responsible for data collection, liaison with accident and emergency departments and paramedics, and drafting the report and paper. SS was responsible for project design, monitoring and analysis of data, and drafting the paper. AB was responsible for project design andmanagement, advice on analysis, and drafting the paper and is guarantor for the study. Helen Myers and Dougie Williams (Westcountry Ambulance Service) and Paul Feasby (South Devon Healthcare Trust) ensured protocol compliance; Terry Phillips (Westcountry Ambulance Service) was responsible for delivery of training; andMargaret Somerville (Teignbridge PCT) and KenWenman (Westcountry Ambulance Service) advised on protocol. Funding: NHS Executive Research and Development directorate SouthWest. The guarantor accepts full responsibility for the conduct of the study, had access to the data, and controlled the decision to publish. Competing interests: None declared.