Treatment adherence and short term outcomes of smoking cessation outpatient clinic patients

Abstract

Aim: This study was conducted to evaluate the factors associated with treatment adherence and quit success in a group of patients that applied to our smoking cessation outpatient clinic (SCC) when varenicline and bupropion preparates were distributed free of charge by Turkish Ministry of Health. Methods: Among patients that applied to SCC between April 2015- December 2016 whom were evaluated suitable for smoking cessation interventions and started pharmachologic treatment and also reached by phone at their third month of first application were included to the study. The ones that had used prescribed treatment at least 30 days were grouped as treatment adherent while the others that used less than 30 days were grouped as treatment nonadherent. Results: Totally 346 patients’ data was evaluated. Mean age of them was 44.3±13.9 with male dominance (63%). Bupropion was started 52% of the patients, 59% of the patients was non-adherent to their treatment and at their third month 37.9% of them had quitted to smoke. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that increase in control visit number, absence of advers reactions and varenicline use was associated with higher treatment adherence (p Conclusion: This study showed that most of the patients did not use the smoking cessation treatments adequately and main factor that affects quit success is treatment adherence. There is a need for a more close monitoring and follow for adequate use of treatment.