High cessation rates of cigarette smoking in subjects with and without COPD.
OBJECTIVE
In general, smoking cessation programs have low success rates. We evaluated the effectiveness of a 1-year smoking cessation program. This program was part of a research project investigating the effects of smoking cessation.


METHODS
In this longitudinal study on the effects of 1 year of smoking cessation, 38 smokers with COPD or chronic bronchitis (mean age, 55 years; 20 men) and 25 healthy subjects (mean age, 50 years; 11 men) who smoked on average 22 cigarettes per day were recruited.


RESULTS
An experienced nurse and a researcher conducted an intensive nonpharmacologic smoking cessation program based on 15 group meetings of 8 to 10 participants. A uniquely high number of 16 COPD or chronic bronchitis patients (42%) and 17 healthy subjects (68%) did not smoke 1 year after stopping smoking.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that frequent and intensive motivational support in a research setting accounts for the high cessation rates.
Willemse
Brigitte
B
Department of Pulmonology, University Medical Centre Groningen, the Netherlands.
Lesman-Leegte
Ivonne
I
Timens
Wim
W
Postma
Dirkje
D
ten Hacken
Nick
N
D001991:Bronchitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*