COLD TURKEY IS A COMMON AND EFFECTIVE METHOD FOR LONG-TERM CIGARETTE SMOKING CESSATION

Abstract

SESSION TITLE: Late-breaking Abstract Posters SESSION TYPE: Original Investigation Posters PRESENTED ON: October 18-21, 2020 PURPOSE: Pharmacological therapy is commonly prescribed by health care providers to help patients quit smoking cigarettes. Recommendations to quit cold turkey are less common. This study determined what methods were most commonly used to achieve long- term (greater than 1 year) smoking cessation. The success rates for long-term cessation with cold turkey versus pharmacological therapy were evaluated. METHODS: Current and former cigarette smokers with chronic medical conditions from Truman Medical Center’s general internal medicine clinics in Kansas City, Missouri were surveyed in person or by telephone. A forty question survey was administered obtaining data on demographics, smoking history, methods for smoking cessation, and reasons for attempting to quit. RESULTS: A total of 196 patients were surveyed. African American 71%, White 22%,Latino 3%, Native American 2%, Asian 1%, Other 1%. Long-term cessation was achieved by 103 patients. Cessation for less than 1 year was achieved by 14 patients. Cold turkey (CT) was used by 92 patients (89%) and pharmacological therapy (PT) was used by 11 patients (11%) to achieve long term abstinence from cigarette smoking. The overall success rate for PT was 16% and the success rate for CT was 72% (p-value < 0.00001). Of the 79 current smokers, 24 used CT and 55 used PT. A secondary finding showed that health concerns were the predominant motivational factor to quit in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The vast majority of patients used cold turkey to achieve long-term smoking cessation. The majority of current smokers attempted to quit with pharmacological therapy and failed. Quitting smoking by cold turkey is a common and effective method for achieving long-term abstinence from cigarette smoking. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: This study confirms previous surveys of former smokers indicating quitting cold turkey is the most common method of successful long-term smoking cessation. Health care providers should encourage quitting cold turkey instead of going initially to pharmacological therapy. The association of the patients’ specific health concerns to smoking cessation can be a powerful motivating factor for successful smoking cessation. DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by An-Lin Cheng, source=Web Response no disclosure on file for Madeline Johnson; No relevant relationships by Gary Salzman, source=Web Response