Higher Smoking Abstinence Rates Research Articles

Associations between cancer diagnosis and patients' responses to an inpatient tobacco treatment intervention.

BackgroundDiagnosis of a chronic illness, such as cancer may influence health behavior changes, such as smoking cessation. The present analyses examine associations between a cancer diagnosis (i.e., yes or no) and response to an opt‐out smoking cessation bedside intervention provided to hospitalized patients. It was hypothesized that patients with a past or present cancer diagnosis would report higher motivation and engagement with quitting smoking, and higher rates of smoking abstinence after hospital discharge, compared to those without a cancer diagnosis.MethodsChart review was conducted on 5287 inpatients who accepted bedside treatment from a counselor and opted‐in to automated follow‐up calls from July 2014 to December 2019.ResultsAt the time of inpatient assessment, those with a past or present cancer diagnosis (n = 419, 7.9%) endorsed significantly higher levels of importance of quitting than those without a cancer diagnosis (3.92/5 vs. 3.77/5), and were more likely to receive smoking cessation medication upon discharge (17.9% vs. 13.3%). Follow‐up data from 30‐days post‐discharge showed those with a cancer diagnosis endorsed higher rates of self‐reported abstinence (20.5%) than those without a cancer diagnosis (10.3%; p < 0.001).ConclusionBeing hospitalized for any reason provides an opportunity for smokers to consider quitting. Having a previous diagnosis of cancer appears to increase intention to quit and lead to higher rates of smoking cessation in patients who are hospitalized compared to patients without cancer. Future research needs to work toward optimizing motivation for smoking cessation while admitted to a hospital and on improving quit rates for all admitted patients, regardless of diagnosis.

A scoping review and meta-analysis of psychosocial and pharmacological treatments for cannabis and tobacco use among African Americans.

The rates of co-occurring cannabis and tobacco use are higher among African Americans relative to other racial/ethnic groups. One plausible approach to treating co-use among African Americans is to examine the effectiveness of treatments for the sole use of cannabis and tobacco to identify effective approaches that might be combined to treat the dual use of these substances. The current meta-analysis sought to include studies that reported cannabis and/or tobacco use outcomes from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) with 100% African American samples. A total of 843 articles were considered for inclusion, 29 were reviewed by independent qualitative coders, and 22 were included in the review. There were no articles on cannabis use treatment with a 100% African American sample, resulting in a need to lower the threshold (60%) and conduct a scoping review of cannabis studies. Preliminary evidence from a small number of studies (k = 7) supports the use of Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy to treat cannabis use among African Americans, but not Contingency Management. Results from a meta-analysis of 15 tobacco studies found higher rates of smoking abstinence in the treatment condition relative to control conditions overall and across short and long-term follow-up periods. Significant differences in smoking abstinence were also found when examining the effects of pharmacological treatments relative to their control conditions. The clinical and research implications of these findings for future psychosocial and pharmacological trials for cannabis and tobacco use and co-use among African Americans are described. (PsycINFO Database Record

Feasibility and acceptability of a telephone- and face-to-face-delivered counseling intervention for smoking cessation in Dutch patients with coronary heart disease.

Intensive behavioral counseling interventions combined with nicotine replacement therapy have increased smoking abstinence rates in cardiac patients, but little is known about their feasibility when initiated upon hospital admission and continued post-discharge. The current study was an evaluation of the use, appreciation, and fidelity of two post-discharge counseling interventions designed for cardiac patients to quit smoking that differed in their delivery mode. In a controlled trial with cross-over randomization at the cardiac unit level, hospitalized smokers in eight cardiac units of eight Dutch hospitals were assigned either telephone counseling (n = 223) or nurse-administered face-to-face counseling (n = 157) using the Ask-Advise-Refer strategy. Eligible patients also received nicotine replacement therapy. Data based on counselors' registration forms and patients' telephone surveys at 6-month follow-up were analyzed. Most patients (>90%) participated in at least one counseling session, and the majority participated in at least five out of a maximum of seven sessions. Higher levels of adherence to either the telephone or face-to-face counseling sessions were associated with higher smoking abstinence rates at the 6-month follow-up, whereas higher nicotine patch use was not associated with abstinence. Patients positively evaluated the content, duration, and number of sessions, and rated the face-to-face counseling significantly better than the telephone counseling for quitting smoking. The counselors largely complied with the intervention protocols. The current intervention offers evidence of feasibility and may improve outpatient continuity of smoking care. Monitoring the use and delivery of such complex interventions is recommended to promote effective dissemination in cardiac practice.

Abstract TMP98: Could Mobile Health be an Effective Strategy for Enhancing Stroke Prevention?

Background: The overwhelming majority of strokes can be prevented via optimal vascular risk factor control. However, there remains an evidence practice gap with regard to treatment of vascular risk factors. With the rapid growth worldwide in cell-phone use, Internet connectivity, and digital health technology, mobile health (mHealth) technology may offer a promising approach to bridge these treatment gaps and reduce the global burden of stroke. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of mHealth in vascular risk factor control through a systemic review and meta-analysis. Methods: We searched PubMed from January 1, 2000 to May 17, 2016 using keywords: mobile health, mhealth, short message, cellular phone, mobile phone, stroke prevention and control, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and smoking cessation. We performed a meta-analysis of all eligible randomized control clinical trials that assessed the long-term (at 6 months) effect of mHealth. Results: Of 79 articles identified, 13 of them met eligibility criteria (6 for glycemic control and 7 for smoking cessation) and were included for the final meta-analysis. There were no eligible studies for dyslipidemia or hypertension. mHealth resulted in greater HbA1c reduction at 6 months (6 studies; 663 subjects; SMD: -0.44; 95% CI: [-0.82, -0.06], P =0.02; Mean difference of decrease in HbA1c: -0.39%; 95% CI: [-0.74,-0.04], P =0.03). mHealth also led to relatively higher smoking abstinence rates at 6 months (7 studies; 9,514 subjects; OR: 1.54; 95% CI: [1.24, 1.90], P &lt;0.0001). Conclusion: Use of mHealth improves glycemic control and smoking abstinence rates, two factors that may lead to better stroke outcomes. Future mHealth studies should focus on modifying premier vascular risk factors like hypertension, specifically in people with or at risk of stroke.

Varenicline for Smoking Cessation in Hospitalized Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Less than one-third of smokers hospitalized with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remain abstinent following discharge. We assessed whether varenicline, begun in-hospital, is efficacious for smoking cessation following ACS. We conducted a multi-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in which smokers hospitalized with an ACS were randomized to varenicline or placebo for 12 weeks. All patients received low-intensity counseling. The primary end point was point-prevalence smoking abstinence assessed at 24 weeks by 7-day recall and biochemical validation using expired carbon monoxide. A total of 302 patients were randomized (mean age 55±9 years; 75% male; 56% ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction; 38% non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction; 6% unstable angina). Patients smoked a mean of 21±11 cigarettes/d at the time of hospitalization and had been smoking for a mean of 36±12 years. At 24 weeks, patients randomized to varenicline had significantly higher rates of smoking abstinence and reduction than patients randomized to placebo. Point-prevalence abstinence rates were 47.3% in the varenicline group and 32.5% in the placebo group (P=0.012; number needed to treat=6.8). Continuous abstinence rates were 35.8% and 25.8%, respectively (P=0.081; number needed to treat=10.0), and rates of reduction ≥50% in daily cigarette consumption were 67.4% and 55.6%, respectively (P=0.05; number needed to treat=8.5). Adverse event rates within 30 days of study drug discontinuation were similar between groups (serious adverse events: varenicline 11.9%, placebo 11.3%; major adverse cardiovascular events: varenicline 4.0%, placebo 4.6%). Varenicline, initiated in-hospital following ACS, is efficacious for smoking cessation. Future studies are needed to establish safety in these patients. URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00794573.

An experimental investigation of reactivity to ecological momentary assessment frequency among adults trying to quit smoking.

Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) captures real-time reports in subjects' natural environments. This experiment manipulated EMA frequency to estimate effects on abstinence and peri-cessation subjective experiences. In this randomized trial, subjects had an equal chance of being assigned to low-frequency (once) or high-frequency (six times) daily EMA for 4 weeks (1 week pre- and 3 weeks post-cessation). Participants completed six office visits over 5 weeks and 6- and 12-week follow-up telephone interviews. Community participants were recruited from central New Jersey, USA. One hundred and ten adult daily smokers seeking to quit smoking were included in intent-to-treat analyses of tobacco abstinence; 94 were available for secondary analyses of peri-cessation subjective ratings. Primary outcomes were cessation (abstaining at least 24 hours within 2 weeks of attempting to quit) and prolonged abstinence (no relapse between weeks 2 and 12 post-quit). Secondary outcomes were mean levels and growth in ratings of cigarette craving, affect and quitting motivation and self-efficacy. EMA frequency was unrelated to cessation (odds ratio = 1.367, 95% confidence interval = 0.603-3.098) or prolonged abstinence (odds ratio = 1.040, 95% confidence interval = 0.453-2.388) in intent-to-treat analyses. High-frequency EMA was associated with lower craving (B = -0.544, standard error (SE) = 0.183, P = 0.004, anxiety (B = -0.424, SE = 0.170, P = 0.015), anger (B = -0.474, SE = 0.139, P = 0.001), hunger (B = -0.388, SE = 0.170, P = 0.025) and positive affect (B = -0.430, SE = 0.196, P = 0.03). In smokers trying to quit, more frequent ecological momentary assessment self-monitoring results in lower craving, anxiety, anger, hunger and positive affect. It is not clear whether this translates into higher rates of smoking abstinence.

Sample size calculation for a hypothesis test.

In this issue of JAMA, Koegelenberg et al1 report the results of a randomized clinical trial (RCT) that investigated whether treatment with a nicotine patch in addition to varenicline produced higher rates of smoking abstinence than varenicline alone. The primary results were positive; that is, patients receiving the combination therapy were more likely to achieve continuous abstinence at 12 weeks than patients receiving varenicline alone. The absolute difference in the abstinence rate was estimated to be approximately 14%, which was statistically significant at level α = .05.

Effectiveness of telephone-based follow-up support delivered in combination with a multi-component smoking cessation intervention in family practice: A cluster-randomized trial

ObjectiveTo determine whether telephone-based smoking cessation follow-up counseling (FC), when delivered as part of a multi-component intervention program is associated with increased rates of follow-up support and smoking abstinence. MethodsA cluster randomized controlled-trial was conducted within family medicine practices in Ontario, Canada. Consecutive adult patients who smoked were enrolled at two time points, the baseline period (2009) and the post-intervention period (2009–2011). Smoking abstinence was determined by telephone interview 4months following enrollment. Both groups implemented a multi-component intervention program. Practices randomized to the FC group could also refer patients to a follow-up support program which involved 5 telephone contacts over a 2-month period. ResultsEight practices, 130 providers, and 928 eligible patients participated in the study. No statistically significant difference in 7-day point-prevalence abstinence was observed between intervention groups. There was a significant increase in referral to follow-up in both intervention groups. Significantly higher rates of smoking abstinence [25.7% vs. 11.3%; adjusted OR 3.1 (95% CI: 1.1, 8.6), p<0.05] were documented among the twenty-nine percent of FC participants who were referred to the follow-up support program compared to the MC group. ConclusionAccess to external follow-up support did not increase rates at which follow-up support was delivered.

Immunogenicity and Smoking-Cessation Outcomes for a Novel Nicotine Immunotherapeutic

NicVAX®, a nicotine vaccine (3’AmNic-rEPA), has been clinically evaluated to determine if higher antibody concentrations are associated with higher smoking abstinence rates and if doses and frequency of administration are associated with increased antibody response. This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled multicenter clinical trial (N=301 smokers) tested 200 and 400 µg doses administered 4 or 5 times over 6 months compared to placebo. 3’AmNic-rEPA recipients with the highest serum anti-nicotine antibody response (top 30% by AUC) were significantly more likely to attain 8 weeks continuous abstinence from weeks 19 through 26 than the placebo recipients (24.6% vs. 12.0%, p=0.024, OR=2.69, 95% CI, 1.14–6.37). The 5 injection 400 µg dose regimen had the greatest antibody response and had significantly higher abstinence rates than placebo. This study demonstrates proof-of-concept that 3’AmNic-rEPA elicits antibodies to nicotine and is associated with higher continuous abstinence rates, justifying its further development as a treatment for nicotine dependence.

Feasibility of a telephone-based intervention for support persons to help smokers quit: A pilot study

Nonsmokers have a potentially supportive role in tobacco cessation efforts. The present study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of a telephone-based intervention for nonsmoking support persons. A total of 59 support persons (mean age = 36 years, 92% female, 95% White) were randomly assigned to a control condition (N = 30; written materials only) or to a social cognitive theory-based intervention (N = 29; written materials and 5 weekly, 20- to 30-min telephone counseling sessions). Both support persons and smokers completed assessments separately by mail at baseline and at weeks 6 (end of treatment) and 26. Two thirds of the smokers reported low-moderate levels of motivation to quit at baseline as assessed by the contemplation ladder. Study retention rates were excellent, with 95% of both support persons and smokers completing the week 26 assessment. Moreover, 86% of support persons in the intervention group completed all five telephone sessions. Treatment acceptability was high for both support persons and smokers. Compared with the control condition, the intervention was associated with a significant increase in support person self-efficacy to help their smoker (p = .034) and outcome expectancies (p = .025) from baseline to week 6. However, the intervention was not associated with higher smoking abstinence rates or quit attempts. The program was successful in reaching smokers with lower levels of readiness to quit. The intervention was feasible and acceptable to both support persons and smokers. Although support persons and smokers can be engaged in this type of outreach program, refinements in the intervention approach are needed to improve the smoking outcomes.

Smoking cessation in methadone maintenance

To evaluate relapse prevention (relapse prevention) and contingency management (contingency management) for optimizing smoking cessation outcomes using nicotine replacement therapy for methadone-maintained tobacco smokers. Experimental, 2 (relapse prevention)x2 (contingency management) repeated measures design using a platform of nicotine replacement therapy featuring a 2-week baseline period, followed by randomization to 12 weeks of treatment, and 6- and 12-month follow-up visits. Three narcotic treatment centers in Los Angeles. One hundred and seventy-five participants who met all inclusion and no exclusion criteria. Participants received 12 weeks of nicotine replacement therapy and assignment to one of four conditions: patch-only, relapse prevention + patch, contingency management + patch and relapse prevention + contingency management + patch. Thrice weekly samples of breath (analyzed for carbon monoxide) and urine (analyzed for metabolites of opiates and cocaine) and weekly self-reported numbers of cigarettes smoked. Participants (73.1%) completed 12 weeks of treatment. During treatment, those assigned to receive contingency management showed statistically higher rates of smoking abstinence than those not assigned to receive contingencies (F3,4680=6.3, P=0.0003), with no similar effect observed for relapse prevention. At follow-up evaluations, there were no significant differences between conditions. Participants provided more opiate and cocaine-free urines during weeks when they met criteria for smoking abstinence than during weeks when they did not meet these criteria (F1,2054=14.38, P=0.0002; F1,2419=16.52, P<0.0001). Contingency management optimized outcomes using nicotine replacement therapy for reducing cigarette smoking during treatment for opiate dependence, although long-term effects are not generally maintained. Findings document strong associations between reductions in cigarette smoking and reductions in illicit substance use during treatment.