[Efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral program with pharmacological support to achieve smoking cessation].
OBJECTIVE
In Germany over 30% of the population are smokers. Only very few smokers succeed in giving up smoking, because of the addictive nature of nicotine use. The objective of the present study was to evaluate a smoking cessation program which was recently established at a tertiary care clinic.


METHODS
The median age of the 275 participants was 45.5 years; 60.4% of participants were female. Participants had tobacco dependence of 5.1 (Fagerstrom scale). The cognitive-behavioral smoking cessation program implemented in this clinic consisted of 8 sessions. Pharmacological support was recommended. A standardized evaluation was carried out after 6 and 12 months.


RESULTS
All 275 smokers took part in the program over a period of 21 months. At the end of the course, 72% of participants had become non-smokers, after 6 months 37.6% and after 12 months 27.1% had stopped smoking. Those who have not yet been evaluated 12 months after the end of the program demonstrated a point prevalence of 45.7% after 6 months. The cigarette consumption of participants who were smoking at the end of the course was reduced to less than half. 6 months later they smoked an average of 18.0 cigarettes /day; 12 months after ending the course, 19.0 /day were consumed (p<0,001). Costs of about 250 Euro per gained life year were approximated.


CONCLUSIONS
It is possible to establish a smoking cessation program at a large clinic. The results correspond to international published experiences and confirm that such a program is efficacious and cost-effective.
Felten
D
D
Abteilung für Kardiologie und Pneumologie, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Deutschland.
Raupach
T
T
Sessler
C
C
Lüthje
L
L
Hasenfuss
G
G
Andreas
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome