Abstract
Factors affecting quitting success in patients attending a smoking cessation program
Introduction: Smoking is a highly addictive behaviour. It is crucial to identify and address factors that may hinder the attempts to quit smoking.
Objectives: Evaluate the success rate of a central hospital smoking cessation program and identify factors that may contribute to failing the quit attempt.
Methods: Retrospective study conducted among patients who attended ≥3sessions of a smoking cessation program of a central hospital between 2008-2016. Medical records were reviewed to collect data on demographic characteristics, smoking pack-years, nicotine dependence, motivation to quit and mood disorders (assessed by Fagerstrom Test, Richmond Test and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale respectively). The sample was divided into two groups: successful and unsuccessful quitters. Statistical analyses were conducted to compare the differences between the two groups.
Results: 335 patients enrolled the study (50.5%males; mean age 50.9±11.5y), 56.1% successfully quitted smoking. Unsuccessful quitters were heavier smokers (mean pack-years: 49.3 vs 41.0, p<0.05), had higher nicotine dependence (Fagerstrom “high dependence”: 50.0% vs 27.3%, p<0.05) and higher depression levels (mean depression score: 6.4 vs 5.3, p<0.05). They were more prone to drop out the program (82.3% vs 63.3%, p<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in age, gender, education level, motivation to quit or anxiety levels between both groups.
Conclusions: In our smoking cessation program higher nicotine addiction and depression levels had a negative effect in smoking cessation success. These patients are likely to need more intensive and multidisciplinary support in order to succeed in their attempts to quit.