Success Rate Of Smoking Cessation Research Articles

Efficacy of the QuitSure App for Smoking Cessation in Adult Smokers: Cross-Sectional Web Survey.

Cigarette smoking remains one of the leading causes of preventable death worldwide. A worldwide study by the World Health Organization concluded that more than 8 million people die every year from smoking, tobacco consumption, and secondhand smoke. The most effective tobacco cessation programs require personalized human intervention combined with costly pharmaceutical supplementation, making them unaffordable or inaccessible to most tobacco users. Thus, digital interventions offer a promising alternative to these traditional methods. However, the leading smartphone apps available in the market today have either not been studied in a clinical setting or are unable to match the smoking cessation success rates of their expensive offline counterparts. We would like to understand whether QuitSure, a novel smoking cessation app built by Rapidkart Online Private Limited, is able to bridge this efficacy gap and deliver affordable and effective smoking cessation at scale. Our objective was to do an initial exploration into the engagement, efficacy, and safety of QuitSure based on the self-reported experiences of its users. Outcomes measured were program completion, the effect of program completion on smoking behavior, including self-reported cessation outcomes, and negative health events from using the app. All QuitSure registered users who created their accounts on the QuitSure app between April 1, 2021, and February 28, 2022, were sent an anonymized web-based survey. The survey results were added to their engagement data on the app to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of the app as a smoking cessation intervention. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) and the χ2 test of independence. In total, 1299 users who had completed the QuitSure program submitted the survey and satisfied the inclusion criteria of the study. Of these, 1286 participants had completed the program more than 30 days before filling out the survey, and 1040 (80.1%, 95% CI 79.1%-82.6%) of them had maintained prolonged abstinence for at least 30 days after program completion. A majority of participants (770/891, 86.4%) who were still maintaining abstinence at the time of submitting the survey did not experience any severe nicotine withdrawal symptoms, while 41.9% (373/891) experienced no mild withdrawal symptoms either. Smoking quantity prior to completing the program significantly affected quit rates (P<.001), with heavy smokers (>20 cigarettes per day) having a lower 30-day prolonged abstinence rate (relative risk=0.91; 95% CI 90.0%-96.2%) compared to lighter smokers. No additional adverse events outside of known nicotine withdrawal symptoms were reported. The nature of web-based surveys and cohort selection allows for extensive unknown biases. However, the efficacy rates of survey respondents who completed the program were high and provide a case for further investigation in the form of randomized controlled trials on the QuitSure tobacco cessation program.

The Role of Twice-Daily N-acetylcysteine (NAC) 2400 mg in Smoking Cessation: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial in Indonesia.

Tobacco smoking remains a health concern, especially in developing countries. Nicotine is significantly linked to many cancers and even second-hand exposure. Hence, smoking can increase the risk of lung and heart disease.This makes quitting smoking important and challenging. Success tends to rise by achieving abstinence with assisted pharmacology. These treatments aim to reduce symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. This is a preclinical trial on glutamate modulator in N-acetylcysteine (NAC) as a new potential treatment for smoking cessation.It is based on the administration of NAC related to elevated levels of dopamine in the central nervous system to accomplish successful smoking cessation. This study evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of NAC for smoking cessation. The primary outcome was abstinence rate and the secondary outcomes of the study were to assess carbon monoxide exhalation value (COexh), the withdrawal symptoms, craving score, safety, and tolerability associated with the administration of NAC. This is a randomized clinical trial. Eligible smokers were treated with NAC 2400 mg twice daily (BID) or placebo to obtain a potential effective abstinence rate.Subjects recruited from the smoking cessation clinic were screened for eligibility and wererandomized to either the NAC or placebo group. The trial consisted of a four-week treatment phase and participants were evaluated each week with a brief counseling. Intention to treat data analysis was performed from 2018 to 2019. Smoking cessation status was verified by measuring the amount of carbon monoxide exhaled and by documenting their smoking habits.Adverse events (AEs) have also been observed on each visit. A total of 90male smokers with a mean (SD) age of 38.7 (11) years were randomized into two groups to receive NAC (n=45) and placebo (n=45). The primary outcome revealed that the abstinence rate was significantly higher for the NACgroup than the placebo group (37.7% vs 6.6%; p=0.02). These findings were supported by data comparison between the NAC group and placebo group of COexh (ppm)(9.59±7.4 vs 13,4±6.1; p=0.04) and cigarette consumption/week (10 vs 46; p <0.001), which were statistically significant. Comparison of withdrawal with the Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Score between theNACgroup and the placebo group showed lower values (8 (1-31) vs 11 (0-43); p=0.178), respectively, even though not statistically significant. Compared to the placebo group, the craving score (6 (2-29) vs 12 (6-31); p=0.04) in the NAC group was significantly lower. The most common adverse event was mild gastrointestinal effects (28.9%) and arthralgia (2.2%). No serious adverse events were detected. Despite a small sample size, the data demonstrate the potential benefits of NAC that may help elevate abstinence rates and promote successful smoking cessation pharmacotherapy. Comprehensive treatment combining pharmacologic therapy and counseling increases smoking cessation success rates. It is essential to conduct a randomized multicenter study with a large population to support a sustained abstinence rate using NAC.

Ameliorating effects of Acanthopanax koreanum extract and components on nicotine dependence and withdrawal symptoms.

Tobacco smoking is a serious health problem in society. While smoking rates are declining, smoking remains a serious risk to national health. Currently, there are several medications available to aid in smoking cessation. However, these medications have the disadvantages of low success rates in smoking cessation and various side effects. Therefore, natural-based smoking cessation aids are being suggested as a good alternative due to their accessibility and minimal side effects. The roots and stems of Acanthopanax koreanum (AK) Nakai, a plant that is native to Jeju Island, South Korea, have traditionally been used as tonic and sedatives. Moreover, eleutheroside B and chlorogenic acid are the main components of AK stem extract. In the present study, we investigated the effect of 70% ethanol AK extract and its components on ameliorating nicotine dependence and withdrawal symptoms by using behavioural tests in mice. In addition, alterations in the dopaminergic and DRD1-EPAC-ERK-CREB pathways were observed using dopamine ELISA and western blotting using mouse brains. Our findings demonstrate that the AK extract and its components effectively mitigated the effects of nicotine treatment in behavioural tests. Furthermore, it normalized the dopamine concentration and the expression level of nicotine acetylcholine receptor α7. Additionally, it was observed that AK extract and its components led to the normalization of DRD1, ERK and CREB expression levels. These results indicate that AK extract exhibits effects in ameliorating nicotine dependence behaviour and alleviating withdrawal symptoms. Moreover, EB and CGA are considered potential marker components of AK extract.

Shared decision-making for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease smoking cessation

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the main cause of death among people aged 65 years and above. Smoking cessation reduces the risk of morbidity and mortality. This study used the variables of smoking cessation behavior and psychological dependence to evaluate the effectiveness of smoking cessation shared decision-making (SDM) with traditional smoking cessation education in patients with COPD. This randomized controlled trial represents a significant positive correlation was observed among smoking duration (p&amp;lt;.05), the number of cigarettes (p&amp;lt;.05), smoking cessation behavior (p&amp;lt;.05), and psychological cigarette dependence. The intervention group (n=44) underwent session of smoking cessation SDM, whereas the control group (n=44) underwent session of traditional smoking cessation education. After three months of the intervention, significant improvements in psychological cigarette dependence (p&amp;lt;.05) and smoking cessation behavior (p&amp;lt;.05) were observed in both groups. The study confirmed that the success rate of smoking cessation in the intervention group is higher than the control group.

Effectiveness of Different Types of Smoking Cessation Health Education for Preoperative Patents and the Factors Correlated with Cessation Success Rate

&lt;p&gt;目的：探討預計接受手術之病人接受不同戒菸衛教方式之戒菸成功率與影響因子分析。&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;方法：本研究為臨床介入前瞻性隨機分配研究。研究對象為2016年10月至2020年1月某醫學中心預計進行常規手術的吸菸病人，隨機分配為影片衛教組及單張衛教組，進行戒菸衛教介入，並分別於戒菸衛教介入後三個月、六個月、十二個月以電話追蹤個案的吸菸狀況，監測點戒菸成功率。以統計方式分析兩組類別變項差異，以及與點戒菸成功率之相關性。&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;結果：本研究共收案79人（接受單張衛教組為44人，男性佔95.5%，平均年齡為49.47&amp;plusmn;13.52歲；接受影片衛教組為35人，男性佔100%，平均年齡為49.25&amp;plusmn;12.96歲）。結果顯示戒菸成功率，在3個月點戒菸成功率中，影片衛教組顯著高於單張衛教組，但在6個月及12個月點戒菸成功率則無顯著差異。進一步以羅吉斯迴歸分析發現有使用戒菸藥物者其手術前戒菸衛教3個月點戒菸成功率較高，有糖尿病者手術前戒菸衛教3個月點戒菸成功率較低。而術前接受單張衛教介入者3個月點戒菸成功率較接受影片衛教者低。12個月點戒菸成功率部分則發現罹患心血管疾病者、罹患癌症者其手術前戒菸衛教12個月點戒菸成功率較高；吸菸時間較長者其手術前戒菸衛教12個月點戒菸成功率較低。&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;結論：手術前接受戒菸衛教能提升戒菸意願，增加戒菸成功率，其中使用傳統衛教單張作為戒菸衛教的媒材相較於衛教影片的戒菸成功率低，故也許能嘗試使用衛教影片作為媒材以期提升短期戒菸成功率。&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Purpose: To explore the success rates and influencing factors of different smoking cessation education methods among patients scheduled for surgery.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Methods: This study is a clinical intervention prospective randomized controlled trial. The study population consisted of smokers scheduled for elective surgery at a medical center between October 2016 and January 2020. Participants were randomly assigned to either a video education group or a pamphlet education group for smoking cessation intervention. Follow-ups were conducted via phone at three months, six months, and twelve months after the intervention to monitor smoking status and assess point cessation success rates. Statistical analyses were performed to compare categorical variables between the two groups of participants and assess correlations with point cessation success rates.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Results: A total of 79 participants were enrolled (44 in the pamphlet education group, 95.5% male, mean age 49.47&amp;plusmn;13.52 years; 35 in the video education group, 100% male, mean age 49.25&amp;plusmn;12.96 years). Results indicated that, at the 3-month follow-up, the video education group exhibited a significantly higher smoking cessation success rate than the pamphlet education group. However, no significant differences were observed at the 6-month and 12-month follow-ups. Further analysis using logistic regression revealed that individuals using smoking cessation medication reported a higher smoking cessation success rate at the 3-month follow-up after preoperative smoking cessation education; the success rate, however, was lower for diabetes patients. Moreover, the success rate at the 3-month follow-up remained lower in those receiving pamphlet education as compared to those receiving video education. At the 12-month follow-up, the success rate after operative smoking cessation education was higher among participants with cardiovascular disease and cancer but lower in those with a longer smoking history. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Conclusion: Preoperative smoking cessation education enhances the motivation and success rates of smoking cessation for patients scheduled for surgery, and traditional health education pamphlets appear to be less effective than health education videos. Therefore, it may be worth trying health education videos as a medium to enhance short-term smoking cessation success rates.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;

Approaches to Smoking Cessation

Smoking cessation is a critical public health issue. Smoking cessation techniques are essential in reducing the burden of tobacco-related diseases and deaths. Medical practitioners have the potential to assist patients in quitting smoking, but deficits exist in the amount and type of training received in smoking cessation counseling.&#x0D; Smoking cessation is not a single event but a process that involves a change in a person's lifestyle, values, social circles, thinking and feeling patterns, and coping skills. Overcoming the hurdles associated with smoking cessation can increase an individual's self-efficacy in their ability to succeed at their quit attempt, which in turn acts to reduce the likelihood of a relapse and increase the likelihood of long-term sustained smoking cessation. Innovative techniques of treatment are necessary to provide effective smoking cessation intervention, especially for difficult cases.&#x0D; The use of pharmacotherapy, including nicotine replacement therapy and other medications, is an effective smoking cessation technique. Behavioral therapy is also a useful approach, including motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and contingency management. The combination of pharmacotherapy and behavioral therapy can enhance the success rate of smoking cessation.

Evaluation of an individually tailored smoking-cessation intervention for patients with rheumatoid arthritis in an outpatient clinic

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate an individually tailored smoking-cessation intervention delivered in rheumatology care and compare the characteristics of patients who quit smoking with those who did not. Method This was an open single-group prospective intervention study over 24 months, with assessments at baseline and at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Current smokers with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were invited to a smoking-cessation programme including behavioural change support, with or without pharmacotherapy. Data on disease activity, medical treatment, and patient-reported outcomes were retrieved from the Swedish Rheumatology Quality Register. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients at month 24 who reported having quit smoking with self-reported 7 day smoking abstinence. Results In total, 99 patients participated in the study. Median age was 58 years (interquartile range 50–64); 69% were female and 88% rheumatoid factor and/or anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide positive. At 24 months, 21% of the patients had quit smoking. At 6, 12, and 18 months, 12%, 12%, and 14% of patients, respectively, had quit smoking. For patients still smoking at 24 months, the median number of cigarettes per day was significantly reduced from 12 to 6 (p ≤ 0.001). Among patients who had quit smoking at 24 months, a smaller proportion reported anxiety at baseline compared to those still smoking (28% vs 58%, p = 0.02). Conclusion A smoking-cessation intervention including behavioural change support with or without pharmacotherapy can be helpful for a substantial number of RA patients. Anxiety is associated with lower smoking-cessation success rates.

A Systematic Review on Effectiveness of Nicotine-Based and Non-Nicotine Based Drug Delivery System for Smoking Cessation Among the Elderly

Introduction: Smoking is associated with a higher risk of mortality, especially in smokers with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Smoking cessation remains the most effective approach in reducing smoking-related illness risks at all ages. For elderly smokers, smoking cessation has been proved to prolong life expectancy and reduce the risk of stroke and ischemic heart disease. However, a wide selection of smoking cessation medications makes prescribing challenging, especially among elderly smokers. Inability to recommend the best treatment may reduce the smoking cessation success rate in the elderly. Therefore, this study compares the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy available and correlate the effect of ageing on the effectiveness, leading to the recommendation of the best medication for elderly smokers. Method: A systematic searching strategy was performed in three different databases by using predetermined search strings. Results: Overall, this systematic review revealed that varenicline showed the greatest smoking cessation rate among the elderly, followed by bupropion and NRT. Conclusion: It is suggested that varenicline offered the best medical aid for smoking cessation in the elderly.

Effective Timing of Introducing an Inpatient Smoking Cessation Program to Cancer Patients.

We aimed to identify factors influencing smoking cessation success among cancer patients registered in an inpatient smoking cessation program at a single cancer center. The electronic medical records of enrolled patients with solid cancer were retrospectively reviewed. We evaluated factors associated with 6-month smoking cessation. A total of 458 patients with cancer were included in this study. Their mean age was 62.9±10.3 years, and 56.3% of the participants had lung cancer. 193 (42.1%) had not yet begun their main treatment. The mean number of counseling sessions for the participants was 8.4±3.5, and 46 (10.0%) patients were prescribed smoking cessation medications. The 6-month smoking cessation success rate was 48.0%. Multivariate analysis showed that younger age (<65 years), cohabited status, early stage, and the number of counseling sessions were statistically significant factors affecting 6-month smoking cessation success (p<0.05). Initiation of a cessation program before cancer treatment was significantly associated with cessation success (odds ratio, 1.66; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-2.70; p=0.040). Smoking cessation intervention must be considered when establishing a treatment plan immediately after a cancer diagnosis among smokers.

Effects of a supportive workplace environment on the success rate for smoking cessation camp.

This study was conducted to identify the success rate for smoking cessation over time after participation in a therapeutic smoking cessation camp, and to identify how participant characteristics, including a supportive workplace environment for smoking cessation (SWESC), affect the success rate for smoking cessation. In all, 296 participants at smoking cessation camps in Ulsan between 2015 and 2020 were investigated. The success rates of smoking cessation after weeks 4, 6, 12, and 24 at camp were investigated. The participants were grouped as workers with an SWESC, and workers without an SWESC, and variables (age, education, household income, marital status, drinking, exercise, body mass index, morbidity, job, number of counseling sessions, cigarettes smoked per day and smoking initiation age) were investigated. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted at each time point. In addition, Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate the variables affecting the success rate for smoking cessation over time. The smoking cessation success rate of workers with an SWESC at week 24 (90.7%) was higher than that for workers without an SWESC (60.5%). Multiple logistic regression was performed to determine the relationship between each variable and the success rates for smoking cessation at week 6, 12, and 24. SWESC was confirmed as significant (p < 0.05) variables for increased success rate for smoking cessation at all 3 time points. After adjusting for all variables, the Cox proportional hazards survival analysis showed a hazard ratio of 6.17 for SWESC (p < 0.001,; 95% confidence interval: 3.08-12.38). At a professional treatment smoking cessation camp, participants with an SWESC showed a significantly higher success rate for smoking cessation. Supportive workplace environment for workers' health is expected to be an important factor for smoking cessation projects as well as other health promotion projects at workplace.

Shared Decision-Making in Drug Selection for Improving Effectiveness of Smoking Cessation

&lt;p&gt;目的：探討使用決策輔助工具(patient decision aids, PDA)選擇戒菸藥物，是否能提升戒菸成效。&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;方法：本研究是一篇歷史對照研究(historical control trial)，研發一份紙本決策輔助工具，輔助戒菸者在varenicline與合併尼古丁替代療法(combination nicotine replacement therapy)兩類藥物中做出選擇。2020年1月至2021年3月期間，於家庭醫學科戒菸門診進行收案，針對有意願接受藥物戒菸的民眾，由醫師擔任醫病共享決策的引導員(coach)，使用決策輔助工具協助其決定藥物的種類。對照組為2019年全年度在家庭醫學科戒菸門診接受藥物戒菸服務者，無使用決策輔助工具。以電話訪問調查第三個月以及第六個月的戒菸狀況，再以logistic regression等統計方法探討使用PDA是否影響戒菸成功率。&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;結果：排除療程中更換處方和失聯者，總共199人被納入研究（PDA組62人：男性佔80.6%，平均年齡為46.0歲；對照組137人，男性佔74.5%，平均年齡為49.4歲）。PDA組傾向選擇varenicline作為戒菸藥物(aOR=1.94, 95% CI 1.02-3.71)；兩組六個月點戒菸率無顯著差異(aOR=1.43, 95% CI 0.74-2.79)。&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;結論：以決策輔助工具選擇戒菸藥物，民眾偏好varenicline甚於合併尼古丁替代療法，但是並未對戒菸成功率造成顯著影響。醫病共享決策能否提升戒菸藥物的順從性，並增進戒菸治療的效益，需要進一步的研究。&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Purpose: The study explored whether the use of patient decision aid (PDA) to select smoking cessation drugs can improve the effectiveness of smoking cessation.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Methods: This historical control trail developed a paper-based PDA to help smokers choose between varenicline and a combination of nicotine replacement therapy. From January 2020 to March 2021, people visiting the smoking cessation clinic of a family medicine department and willing to take drugs to quit smoking were enrolled into the PDA group of the study with doctors serving as coaches for shared decision-making and applying the PDA to help them decide on the types of drugs to use. Members in the control group were enrolled from people receiving the drug smoking cessation services in the same smoking cessation clinic in 2019 without using PDA. The smoking status after 3 and 6 months were collected by telephone interview. The effects of using PDA on smoking cessation were analyzed by logistic regression.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Results: A total of 199 people participating in the study, excluding those who changed prescriptions and lost contact during the course of treatment. Of the 62 participants in the PDA group, 80.6% were male, and the average age was 46.0. Of the 137 participants in the control group, 74.5% were male, and the average age was 49.4. The PDA group preferred varenicline as the smoking cessation drug (aOR=1.94, 95% CI 1.02-3.71). There was no significant difference in the smoking cessation rate between the two groups at six months (aOR=1.43, 95% CI 0.74-2.79).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Conclusion: When using PDA to select smoking cessation drugs, people appear to prefer varenicline over a combination of nicotine replacement therapy; however, this preference produces no significant influence on the success rate of smoking cessation. Whether shared decision-making help improve the compliance with the instructions of smoking cessation products and enhance the effectiveness of smoking cessation treatment requires further research.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;

Acupuncture combined with auricular acupressure for smoking cessation and its effects on tobacco dependence and smoking behavior among Hong Kong smokers: a multicenter pilot clinical study

BackgroundAcupuncture combined with auricular acupressure has been used as a complementary and alternative treatment for smoking cessation in Hong Kong for over 10 years. This study aimed to investigate the success rates of smoking cessation posttreatment, and to evaluate treatment effects on tobacco dependence, smoking behavior, anxiety levels, and sleep disturbances between successful and unsuccessful quit smokers in Hong Kong.MethodsThis prospective, multicenter clinical study conducted between September 2020 and February 2022 in Hong Kong was part of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area project on smoking cessation. Thirty eligible current smokers (mean age 47.10 years; 40% female) were recruited and received a combination of standardized acupuncture and auricular acupressure treatments twice weekly for 8 weeks. The primary outcome was the success rate of smoking cessation at week 24. The secondary outcomes were the success rates of smoking cessation at weeks 8 and 16, exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) levels, and changes in scores on the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), Autonomy Over Smoking Scale (AUTOS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Adverse events were also recorded.ResultsOf 30 eligible participants, 28 completed 6 or more treatment sessions; all completed follow-up assessments. At week 24, the success rate of smoking cessation was 46.67%. The successfully quit rates at weeks 8 and 16 were 36.67% and 43.33%, respectively. The overall change in mean FTND scores from baseline improved significantly from weeks 2 to 24 (P < 0.05), with the successful quit group showing significantly greater improvement between weeks 8 and 24 (P < 0.01). Compared with baseline values, there were significant reductions in mean AUTOS scores from weeks 6 to 24 (P < 0.001), with the successful quit group showing greater improvement at weeks 16 (P = 0.04) and 24 (P < 0.001). No significant changes were detected in exhaled CO levels or HAM-A, SAS, and PSQI scores. No study-related adverse events were observed.ConclusionsAcupuncture combined with auricular acupressure could be an effective alternative treatment for smoking cessation and reduction of tobacco dependence among Hong Kong smokers.Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, No. ChiCTR2000033650. Registered on June 7, 2020. http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=54866

Smoking cessation rates in elderly and nonelderly smokers after participating in an intensive care smoking cessation camp.

Since it is a widely known fact that smoking cessation is beneficial physically and cognitively, efforts should be made to enable smokers to quit smoking through policy. Intensive care smoking cessation camps generally show a high smoking cessation success rate, but research is needed to determine which smokers should be admitted due to costeffectiveness. Although many studies have been conducted to find factors related to smoking cessation success, there is still controversy about the will and success rate of smoking cessation of elderly smokers. We performed this study to determine behavior characteristics and smoking cessation success rates in nonelderly and elderly smokers who participated in an intensive care smoking cessation camp.Heavy smokers participating in an intensive care smoking cessation camp at Chonnam National University Hospital between the August 2015 and December 2017 were classified into elderly (age ≥65 years old) or nonelderly (age <65 years old) groups after excluding missing data. Smokers were followed up at 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 6 months from the start of abstinence by self-report, measurement of carbon monoxide expiration levels or cotinine testing.A total of 351 smokers were enrolled in the study. At the 6-month follow-up, 56 of 107 (52.3%) elderly smokers and 109 of 244 (44.7%) nonelderly smokers continued to abstain from smoking. Elderly smokers showed a higher smoking cessation rate than that of nonelderly smokers, but it was not statistically significant (OR = 1.36, 95%CI: 0.862, 2.145). The most common causes of cessation failure in both groups were stress and temptation, followed by withdrawal symptoms.Smoking cessation rates in the elderly are comparable to that in the nonelderly after an intensive care smoking cessation camp. Intensive care smoking cessation camps can help both elderly and nonelderly smokers who intend to quit smoking by providing motivation, education and medication. Smoking cessation should be strongly recommended regardless of age.

Communication intervention to improve perceived threat of smoking-related COVID-19 and intentions to quit smoking during the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand.

INTRODUCTIONSmokers are more likely to be at risk of developing severe COVID-19. This study aimed to develop and evaluate the effect of a communication intervention for enhancing perceived threat of coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) infection associated with smoking and examine intentions to quit smoking among smokers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand.METHODSThis study was of experimental design. The sample was 427 eligible smokers who were living in Kosumphi Nakhon district. They were either assigned to the intervention group (233) or control group (194). The intervention group received the communication intervention, developed based on the Health Belief Model (HBM), including education online, motivation via social networks, and communication through local mass media. The difference in mean scores between the two groups was examined using an independent t-test. Regression models were fitted to explore the factors associated with the improvement score of intention to quit smoking.RESULTSThe participants in the intervention group who received the communication intervention had a significantly higher mean score of perceived threats of smoking-induced COVID-19 (effect size=0.518, p<0.001) and had a significantly higher mean score of intentions to quit smoking (effect size=0.717, p<0.001) than in the control group. However, the number of e-cigarettes smoked per day between-groups was not significantly different (p=0.532). In the regression analysis, factors that significantly associated with the improvement score of intentions to quit smoking, included female gender (p=0.002), addicted to nicotine score (p<0.001), intervention group (p=0.010), and the improvement score of perceived threats (p=0.026).CONCLUSIONSThis community-based communication intervention could enhance the perceived threats of smoking-induced COVID-19 and increased the intentions to quit smoking among the smokers. However, further research to track the success rate of smoking cessation is still needed.

The Effect of Fear of COVID-19 on Smoking Cessation

Aim: We aimed to investigate the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and smoking cessation success. Methods: The study is an observational analytic study. It was conducted prospectively and we included people who applied to the smoking cessation outpatient clinic between 01 Oct 2020 and 31 Oct 2020 and agreed to participate in the study. A questionnaire prepared by the researchers, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, and the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence were applied to the participants. When necessary treatments had been initiated, a particular date is determined for each participant as a smoking cessation date. Participants were called in the 1st month and 3rd months from the smoking cessation day to enquire whether they quit smoking. Results: A total of 222 people participated in this study. The mean score of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale was calculated as 18.77±6.45. The success rate of smoking cessation in the 3rd month was 55% (n=122). No significant relationship was found between smoking cessation success and the score of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale. Conclusion: Although we cannot associate it with the fear of COVID-19 alone, we believe that the pandemic increases the success of early smoking cessation. To maintain these success rates, it is important to provide adequate support to the patients. Keywords: COVID-19, fear, smoking cessation, tobacco smoking

국가금연지원서비스를 이용하는 여성흡연자의 금연 실패 관련 요인

Objectives: The smoking rate of women is lower than that of men; however, it is increasing. In Korea, the public health center smoking cessation clinic, visiting smoking cessation support service, 4-night 5-day program, and Quitline were in operation for women. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between smoking cessation failure factors and the characteristics of smoking women by smoking cessation support service. Methods: This study targeted a total of 125.097 people from January 2017 to December 2019 in the integrated information system for smoking cessation services. A total of 93,594 people excluding missing values were used as final analysis data. The general characteristics of the subjects, smoking-related characteristics, and 12-week smoking cessation failure rate were investigated. Results: The 4-night 5-day program had the lowest failure rate (33%), the college student program showed a significant failure rate of 5.43 times (CI=4.35-6.77) than the 4-night 5-day program. Conclusion: To increase the success rate of smoking cessation for women, programs that increase self-efficacy and will to quit smoking, such as the therapeutic 4-night 5-day program, and programs such as Quitline that can be accessed regardless of social views should be expanded.

Clinical Implication of Smoking-Related Aryl-Hydrocarbon Receptor Repressor (AHRR) Hypomethylation in Japanese Adults.

Tobacco smoking is a leading preventable cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide; still, the success rate of smoking cessation is low in general. From the viewpoint of public health and clinical care, an objective biomarker of long-term smoking behavior is sought.Methods and Results: This study assessed DNA methylation as a biomarker of smoking in a hospital setting through a combination of molecular approaches including genetic, DNA methylation and mRNA expression analyses. First, in an epigenome-wide association study involving Japanese individuals with chronic cardiovascular disease (n=94), genome-wide significant smoking association was identified at 2 CpG sites on chromosome 5, with the strongest signal at cg05575921 located in intron 3 of the aryl-hydrocarbon receptor repressor (AHRR) gene. Highly significant (P<1×10-27) smoking-cg05575921 association was validated in 2 additional panels (n=339 and n=300). For the relationship of cg05575921 methylation extent with time after smoking cessation and cumulative cigarette consumption among former smokers, smoking-related hypomethylation was found to remain for ≥20 years after smoking cessation and to be affected by multiple factors, such as cis-interaction of genetic variation. There was a significant inverse correlation (P=0.0005) between cg05575921 methylation extent and AHRR mRNA expression. The present study results support that reversion of AHRR hypomethylation can be a quantifiable biomarker for progress in and observance of smoking cessation, although some methodological points need to be considered.

Status of social capital and its relationship with the success rate of smoking cessation in patients referred to the smoking cessation clinic of Farshchian Cardiovascular Hospital in Hamadan

ABSTRACT Background and Objective Several studies showed the effect of social capital on smoking cessation. The present study examined this issue. Materials and Methods One hundred eleven smokers admitted to the smoking cessation clinic were consecutively included in a cross-sectional study in 2019. The data were collected using a checklist of demographic characteristics, nicotine dependency (Fagerström questionnaire) and social capital scale (Bullen). The success rate for smoking cessation was determined for smokers at 1-, 3- and 6-month intervals. Data were analyzed by SPSS 22 software. Result Of the 111 participants, 107 were males. The mean age of participants was 47.42 ± 12.66 years. The minimum score of social capital was 63 and the maximum was 172. Of all the patients admitted to the clinic, only 43 (38.7%) completed the cessation sessions (at least 4 sessions), with the mean score of social capital having no significant differences between the two groups (107.97 ± 17.93, 107.58 ± 19.95, respectively, p: NS) Conclusion Given the lack of a significant relationship between social capital and successful smoking cessation in the study, studying other factors like socioeconomic conditions and social norms that affect social capital and smoking cessation seems to be advisable to consider in future studies.

Factors related to the success of smoking cessation: A retrospective cohort study in Korea.

INTRODUCTIONEvery year, at least half of the smokers in South Korea attempt to quit smoking. However, the Korean smoking rate remains still high among OECD countries. This study aimed to identify the factors that influence the success of smoking cessation efforts.METHODSThe study included 1395 smokers, who participated in a 12-week program comprising doctor counseling and pharmacological treatment (i.e. varenicline), conducted at smoking cessation clinics in two general hospitals from 2015 to 2019. The participants responded to a survey questionnaire inquiring about their smoking behaviors at the first visit to the clinic. After completing the program, they were asked whether they succeeded in smoking cessation. Based on participants’ reported success or failure, multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to obtain adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for factors related to smoking cessation success.RESULTSFollowing the 12-week program, 39.6% of the participants (n=553) succeeded in smoking cessation. Lower rates of nicotine dependence (AOR=0.73; 95% Cl: 0.54–0.98) and lower total amounts of smoking (AOR=0.67; 95% Cl: 0.47–0.95) were significantly associated with higher success rates in smoking cessation. In addition, smokers who participated in the program for at least 8 weeks (AOR=7.16; 95% Cl: 5.57–9.20) and smokers who had hypertension (AOR=1.40; 95% Cl: 1.07–1.85) or a cardiovascular disease (AOR=1.68; 95% Cl: 1.03–2.75) achieved higher success rates.CONCLUSIONSSmokers’ success in smoking cessation was influenced by the period of visits to the smoking cessation clinic, the severity of nicotine dependence, and the presence of a cardiovascular disease including hypertension. Using these factors, smoking cessation strategy may be improved and personalized for individuals.

The success rate of smoking cessation in MSMC COPD clinic patients

The success rate of smoking cessation in MSMC COPD clinic patients