ABS97: Reporting on a smoking cessation programme from rural primary care in Greece

Abstract

Background:Although Greece is a country where a high smoking rate is reported, there are only few interventions on smoking cessation in the primary care setting. This paper reports in developments and achievements of a programme on counselling patients who smoke at a rural Health Centre.Methods:The study lasted from June 2002 until December 2005. Of all patients who visited the practice of two GPs, those who provided informed consent were eligible. The smoking cessation programme was based on the guidelines according to the relative Consensus Statement. All patients completed the Fangeström questionnaire at the 1st visit. The given medical treatment was NRT and Bupropion. Follow-ups were scheduled on the 6th and 12th month. All the medical records were reviewed and data on smoking cessation and interventions implemented have recorded. The presence of respiratory diseases (COPD, Asthma) and other risk factors as cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes, was documented using international consensus (GOLD, GINA).Results:520 patients 395 males (76%) and 125 females (24%) (mean age 53, range 18–77) were identified. 27 patients (14.4%) were found to have receiving counselling and 413 (79.4%) parmacotherapy. 22 patients (12.6%) were treated with NRT, 202 (48.9%) with NRT and Bupropion and 159 (38.5%) only with Bupropion. 77 patients (14.8%) were diagnosed with COPD and 69 (13.3%) with cardiovascular disease. Six months after cessation 363/520 pts (69.8%) were non-smokers, while the corresponding rate after one year was found to 281/520 (54%).Conclusion:The smoking cessation programme implemented at this rural Health Center in Greece seems to be effective. The study adds in the existing literature that GPs are capable in implementing systematic approaches with guidelines and contribute to the smoking cessation. Conflict of interest and funding Smoking cessation.