The combination of a smoking cessation programme with rehabilitation increases stop-smoking rate.
OBJECTIVE
A parallel group study to investigate the effectiveness of a smoking cessation programme performed during routine rehabilitation practice for outpatients.


METHODS
The study participants comprised an intervention group of 102 consecutive smokers who underwent a smoking cessation programme in a rehabilitation centre and a control group of 101 consecutive smokers who were referred to a smoking cessation centre in a pulmonary hospital. All participants underwent physical examination,pulmonary function tests and received identical behavioural and/or pharmacological treatment. In addition, the intervention group underwent rehabilitation practice 3 times a week for 3 months.


RESULTS
The continuous abstinence rate at 12 months, which was validated by an expired air carbon monoxide concentration of 10 parts per million or less and a household interview, was 68% in the intervention group and 32% in the control group. Multivariable analysis showed that rehabilitation was significantly associated with smoking cessation after adjusting for years of smoking, number of cigarettes smoked,gender and treatment (odds ratio = 4.34, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that smoking cessation programmes during routine rehabilitation may be highly effective in helping smoking withdrawal and should be a strongly recommended component of rehabilitation practice.
Paone
Gregorino
G
Department of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences, University of Rome "La Sapienza", S. Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy. rpaone1023@yahoo.com
Serpilli
Manuela
M
Girardi
Enrico
E
Conti
Vittoria
V
Principe
Rosastella
R
Puglisi
Giovanni
G
De Marchis
Laura
L
Schmid
Giovanni
G
D000328:Adult; D016642:Bupropion / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011379:Prognosis; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D016642:Bupropion; D009538:Nicotine