A cluster randomized trial in general practice with referral to a group-based or an Internet-based smoking cessation programme.
BACKGROUND
Reviews state that there is a room for improvements of smoking cessation (SC) intervention in general practice.


METHODS
In 2005, all 61 general practitioners (GPs) in four municipalities in Copenhagen, Denmark, were invited to participate. Twenty-four GPs accepted and were cluster randomized to one of three groups: Group A, referral to group-based SC counselling (national model), n = 10; Group B, referral to internet-based SC programme (newly developed), n = 8; or Group C, no referral ('do as usual'), n = 6. A total of 1518/1914 smokers were included, and 760 returned a questionnaire at 1-year follow-up.


RESULTS
The participating GPs reported significantly more SC counselling than GPs who refused participation (P = 0.04). Self-reported point abstinence was 6.7% (40/600), 5.9% (28/476) and 5.7% (25/442) in Groups A, B and C, respectively. Only 40 smokers attended group-based SC counselling, and 75 logged in at the internet-based SC programme. In cluster analyses, we found no significant additional effect of referral to group-based (OR: 1.05; 95% CI: 0.6-1.8) or internet-based SC programmes (OR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.6-1.4).


CONCLUSIONS
We found no additional effect on cessation rates of GPs' referring to group-based SC counselling or internet-based SC programme. This finding might, to some degree, be explained by the short time used by the GPs on SC counselling and the selection of the participating doctors.
Pisinger
Charlotta
C
Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Ndr. Ringvej, Glostrup University Hospital, DK-2600 Glostrup, Denmark. chpi@glo.regionh.dk
Jørgensen
Michael Milo
MM
Møller
Niels Erik
NE
Døssing
Martin
M
Jørgensen
Torben
T
D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003376:Counseling; D003718:Denmark; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000628:therapy*