title: Status and costs of smoking cessation in countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
abstract: The aim of this cross-sectional observational study was to address the health care situation in regard to smoking cessation efforts and expenditure, and to provide a basis for future studies and for implementing tobacco control programmes throughout the Eastern Mediterranean Region of the World Health Organization. Information collected included methods and cost of services for tobacco cessation from all 16 participating countries. In 10 countries, cessation programmes were directed by primary physicians. In 13 countries, nicotine gum and in 14 countries nicotine patches were accessible in pharmacies. Bupropion was available at pharmacies (with a written prescription) in 6 countries and varenicline in 7 countries. However, the mean cost of each service was significantly higher than the price of a pack of cigarettes. In countries with support services for tobacco cessation, directors need to provide care at the society level that is considerably less costly and widely accessible.
authors.affiliation: Tobacco Prevention and Control Research Centre, Masih Daneshvari Hospital, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Heydari
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Talischi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mojgani
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Masjedi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Algouhmani
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Lando
authors.forename: Ebn A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Ahmady
mesh_terms: D016642:Bupropion / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008877:Middle East / Q000453:epidemiology; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D012907:Smoking / Q000191:economics; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D020340:Tobacco Use Cessation / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D061485:Tobacco Use Cessation Devices / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D016642:Bupropion