Smoking cessation interventions offered to French adult light smokers: a heterogeneous population with specific needs.
OBJECTIVE
We addressed the understudied topic of cessation interventions for adult light smokers (< or =10 cigarettes daily). We identified cessation aids offered in French cessation services and their impact on cessation outcomes at 1-month follow-up.


METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed data from 36,594 smokers in cessation services nationwide. Smokers could be offered pharmacotherapy as well as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Bivariate methods and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used.


RESULTS
Light smokers were 1.23 times more likely to drop out than heavy smokers. 13.3% were abstinent at follow-up versus 14.5% for heavy smokers (p = 0.013). Light smokers were offered pharmacotherapy less often than heavy smokers. Yet, among light smokers, varenicline doubled the odds of abstinence as did nicotine patch. CBT improved abstinence only when combined with nicotine patch. Intervention outcomes differed according to various profiles: light smokers self-referred or with several previous quit attempts achieved better outcomes than those not interested in quitting or referred through hospitalization.


CONCLUSIONS
Light smokers' poor intervention outcomes might partly be explained by inadequate treatment plans in French cessation services. Our results reveal that pharmacotherapy is effective and that tailored CBT should be offered according to the variety of profiles among light smokers.
Baha
Monique Y
MY
Ecole doctorale de Santé Publique, Faculté de médecine Paris VI, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France. monique.baha@etu.upmc.fr
Le Faou
Anne-Laurence
AL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome