Abstract
Aim. The present study describes smoking cessation counselling at the Lung Clinic of Tartu University Hospital between 2006–2010. The objectives were to describe maintenance in the smoking cessation process and to analyse its relationship with the factors associated with smoking relapse.
Methods. The target group consisted of 566 persons visiting the smoking cessation counselling service at the Lung Clinic of Tartu University Hospital between 01.01.2006–31.12.2010. Among the factors associated with smoking relapse, gender, age, motivation, pack-years, depression, anxiety disorders, nicotine addiction and treatment of tobacco addiction were examined. Frequency tables were used in descriptive analysis. Differences between groups were analysed by the X2 test and the Mann-Whitney U-test. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the probability of maintaining in the smoking cessation process at different time points. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to evaluate relationship between maintenance in the smoking cessation process and factors associated with smoking relapse. Hazard ratios (HR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were computed.
Results. Of all adults visiting the smoking cessation counselling service, 54.6% started with the cessation process. Most of those who were initially able to maintain smokefree had subsequently relapsed during the first 2 weeks after their first smoke-free day. Among those who visited the smoking cessation counselling service, the 12-month abstinence rate was 9.7%. The probability to be smoke-free 12-months after cessation was 22.2%. The remaining smoke- free status was associated with age, depression and prescribed nicotine replacement therapy (use of medicines unknown). Compared to at least 25-year-old quitters, those younger than 25-year old were 1.79 (95% CI 1.08–2.96) times less likely to remain smoke-free. Quitters with depression were 1.36 (95% CI 1.01–1.85) less likely and those to whom nicotine replacement therapy was prescribed were 1.48 (95% CI 1.11–1.97) times less likely to be abstinent at the end of 12 months after the first smoke-free day.
Conclusion. The abstinence rate of smokers visiting the smoking cessation counselling service at the Lung Clinic of Tartu University Hospital in 2006–2010 was favourable, however, it is necessary to increase participation in the smoking cessation process among visitors of the smoking cessation service. Maintaining abstinent is associated with the individual factors of smokers.