title: Effectiveness of the Gold Standard Programme compared with other smoking cessation interventions in Denmark: a cohort study.
abstract: We compared the effectiveness of the Gold Standard Programme (a comprehensive smoking cessation intervention commonly used in Denmark) with other face-to-face smoking cessation programmes in Denmark after implementation in real life, and we identified factors associated with successful quitting.
  
  
  
  Prospective cohort study.
  
  
  
  A total of 423 smoking cessation clinics from different settings reported data from 2001 to 2013.
  
  
  
  In total, 82 515 patients were registered. Smokers ≥15 years old and attending a programme with planned follow-up were included. Smokers who did not want further contact, who intentionally were not followed up or who lacked information about the intervention they received were excluded. A total of 46 287 smokers were included.
  
  
  
  Various real-life smoking cessation interventions were identified and compared: The Gold Standard Programme, Come & Quit, crash courses, health promotion counselling (brief intervention) and other interventions.
  
  
  
  Self-reported continuous abstinence for 6 months.
  
  
  
  Overall, 33% (11 184) were continuously abstinent after 6 months; this value was 24% when non-respondents were considered smokers. The follow-up rate was 74%. Women were less likely to remain abstinent, OR 0.83 (CI 0.79 to 0.87). Short interventions were more effective among men. After adjusting for confounders, the Gold Standard Programme was the only intervention with significant results across sex, increasing the odds of abstinence by 69% for men and 31% for women. In particular, compliance, and to a lesser degree, mild smoking, older age and not being disadvantaged were associated with positive outcomes for both sexes. Compliance increased the odds of abstinence more than 3.5-fold.
  
  
  
  Over time, Danish smoking cessation interventions have been effective in real life. Compliance is the main predictor of successful quitting. Interestingly, short programmes seem to have relatively strong effects among men, but the absolute numbers are very small. Only the comprehensive Gold Standard Programme works across sexes.
authors.affiliation: WHO-CC Clinical Health Promotion Centre, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Part of Copenhagen University Hospital, Frederiksberg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mette
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2847-1544
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.affiliation: Tobacco Control Unit, Institut Català d'Oncologia (ICO-IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.|Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Esteve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.affiliation: Health Science, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.|WHO-CC Clinical Health Promotion Centre, Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Hanne
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tønnesen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D057186:Comparative Effectiveness Research; D003376:Counseling; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000592:standards*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D057566:Self Report; D012907:Smoking / Q000628:therapy*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D035862:Vulnerable Populations; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Denmark; effectiveness; national database; smoking cessation; smoking cessation interventions