title: A cluster randomized trial in general practice with referral to a group-based or an Internet-based smoking cessation programme.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Ndr. Ringvej, Glostrup University Hospital, DK-2600 Glostrup, Denmark. chpi@glo.regionh.dk
authors.forename: Charlotta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pisinger
authors.forename: Michael Milo
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.forename: Niels Erik
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Møller
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Døssing
authors.forename: Torben
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
mesh_terms: 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*