title: Transdermal nicotine patches with low-intensity support to aid smoking cessation in outpatients in a general hospital. A placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether transdermal nicotine patches combined with low-intensity support can help outpatients in a general hospital stop smoking.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 12 weeks of follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Thoracic Medicine in an inner-city public general hospital, London, England.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred forty-eight outpatients in a general hospital, who smoked at least 10 cigarettes per day (the majority were being treated for smoking-related diseases), referred by clinicians at the hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Brief advice to stop smoking and daily application of transdermal nicotine patches (delivering 15 mg over 16 hours) or placebo, with follow-up appointments at 1, 3, 6, and 12 weeks, with a doubling of the dosage for continuing smokers at week 1.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sustained abstinence from tobacco from week 3 to week 12 validated with measurement of expired-air carbon monoxide concentration at weeks 3, 6, and 12.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-nine (23.4%) of 124 subjects assigned to the nicotine group were validated as having abstained from smoking at both weeks 3 and 6, compared with 16 (12.9%) of 124 subjects receiving placebo (P = .008). At week 12, 22 (17.7%) of the subjects in the nicotine group were validated as having abstained at all three points as were 15 (12.1%) of the subjects in the placebo group (P = .058).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transdermal nicotine patches combined with low-intensity support are effective in helping outpatients in a general hospital stop smoking but do not prevent relapse after 6 weeks.
authors.affiliation: Health Behaviour Unit, National Addiction Centre, London, England.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Foulds
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stapleton
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayward
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Feyerabend
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Costello
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000341:Affective Disorders, Psychotic / Q000139:chemically induced; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004304:Dosage Forms; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004304:Dosage Forms; D009538:Nicotine