title: [Smoker's clinical characteristics at a tobacco cessation consultation (Sousse university hospital, Tunisia)].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Smoking cessation intervention is among the most vital elements of the prevention of tobacco smoking. Our study aimed to describe the clinical profile of patients attending our smoking cessation unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study from December 2009 to June 2012. The patients were recruited in the Tobacco cessation unit of Sahloul Hospital (Sousse, Tunisia). The data were collected from the consultants' records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 279 patients attended. They were mostly men (92.8 %). The mean age was 41.7 ± 13.4 years. Among medical conditions, a history of cardiovascular and respiratory disease was the most frequent (31 %). Anxiety was present in 46.2 % of patients. More than half of the patients (51.2 %) were heavy smokers and 50.5 % were strongly nicotine dependent (Fagerström's score>7). Seventy percent were motivated to stop smoking and 53.8 % had tried to quit at least once.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of our patients could be considered as heavy smokers. Therapeutic combinations and medical treatment are suggested to assist practitioners trying to help them.
authors.affiliation: Département de médecine préventive et communautaire, faculté de médecine, CHU Sahloul, 4054 Sousse, Tunisie. Electronic address: said_houyem@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Said Latiri
authors.affiliation: Consultation d'aide au sevrage tabagique, CHU Sahloul, Sousse, Tunisie.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khefacha Aissa
authors.affiliation: Consultation d'aide au sevrage tabagique, CHU Sahloul, Sousse, Tunisie.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chebil
authors.affiliation: Consultation d'aide au sevrage tabagique, CHU Sahloul, Sousse, Tunisie.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dhidah
authors.affiliation: Service de prévention et de sécurité des soins, département de médecine préventive et communautaire, faculté de médecine, CHU Sahloul, Sousse, Tunisie.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ben Rejeb
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009043:Motor Activity; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Depressive disorders; Dépendance tabagique; Sevrage tabagique; Smoking; Smoking cessation; Tabagisme; Tobacco dependence; Troubles dépressifs