A smoking cessation clinic with a 57% success rate: what makes it work?
OBJECTIVE
To describe an outpatient smoking cessation clinic, and what predicts participant success.


METHODS
In 1999, a 12-week smoking cessation clinic was begun. In 2000, the duration was expanded to include an additional 12 weeks of relapse prevention. Participants completed surveys at the beginning and end of their clinic. All participants, even those who dropped out, were surveyed to determine current status. If they were not reached, they were assumed to be smoking.


RESULTS
Eleven clinics have been completed thus far, with 117 people enrolling. Of all participants, 57% were not smoking at their last contact (average length of follow-up was 14 months). Age, baseline smoking rate, and presence of a non-smoking support person were the best predictors of abstinence.


CONCLUSIONS
A 57% abstinence rate was achieved in this outpatient clinic, serving a mix of rural and non-rural patients.
Rooney
Brenda
B
Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, 1836 South Avenue, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA.
Sakis
Kim
K
Havens
Sarah
S
Miller
Christine
C
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D012044:Regression Analysis; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014922:Wisconsin