Smoking cessation. A comparative, randomised study between management in general practice and the behavioural programme SmokEnders.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effectiveness of two different stop smoking interventions.


METHODS
A randomised, controlled trial. Results based on intention to treat.


METHODS
Three towns in the south-eastern part of Norway.


METHODS
Visits to GP for "practice as usual" (GP group) or participation in the behavioural programme SmokEnders (SE group) with follow-up 2 weeks, 2 months and 1 year after an agreed stopping date.


METHODS
139 smokers recruited through open invitation.


METHODS
Self-reported smoking stop rate 2 weeks, 2 months and 1 year after an agreed stopping date, completed with biochemical indicators by the 1-year registration.


RESULTS
Two weeks after the agreed cessation date, 10/70 (14%) of the GP group and 46/69 (67%) of the SE group had stopped smoking. After 2 months, 9/70 (13%) in the GP group and 37/69 (54%) in the SE group were non-smokers. One year after cessation 5/70 (7%) in the GP group and 21/69 (30%) in the SE group were non-smokers.


CONCLUSIONS
Both interventions were effective as measured by the smoking cessation rate. However, the intervention in the SE group was considerably more effective than in the GP group, which suffered from a sizeable number of drop-outs.
Bakkevig
O
O
Institute of General Practice and Community Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway.
Steine
S
S
von Hafenbrädl
K
K
Laerum
E
E
D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome