INTRODUCTION The Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Integrated Centre on Smoking Cessation has been providing free smoking cessation services since 2009. The average quit rate from 2009 to 2014 was 37%. In order to boost the quite rate, we have implemented a residential treatment program for smokers who volunteered to participate. Having run the program for two years, we conducted a retrospective cohort study to evaluate its effectiveness. METHODS We recruited the participants who had failed previous quit attempts and who came to seek our smoking cessation services. A 3-day residential program of activities were arranged for our participants. Intensive individual and group counseling was provided. Pharmacotherapy was also provided to alleviate withdrawal symptoms. This was followed by our usual treatment and follow-up program. Self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence rate at 26 weeks based on intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis was assessed. RESULTS A total of 40 clients volunteered to join the program, age 26 to 65 years old with a mean of 44.1 years. There were 25 (62.5%) males and 15 (37.5%) females. The quit rate at 26 weeks was 57.5%. Smokers older than 43 years, having cohabiting smokers, and smoking for more than 28 years, were more likely to quit and this was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS This pilot study demonstrated that a 3-day residential program is effective in helping addicted smokers who volunteer to quit smoking and is cost effective compared to longer residential programs.

An observational study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture for smoking cessation, and determine predictors for successful quitters. Smokers received at least 6 sessions of body acupuncture provided by Chinese medicine practitioners and initiated self-administered auricular acupuncture. We determined self-report 26-week and 52-week quit rates by intention-to-treat analysis and examined predictors for successful quitting by univariate and multivariate analyses. A total of 1002 smokers were recruited; 26-week and 52-week quit rates were 16.8% and 15.8%, respectively. Male sex, older age, lower nicotine dependence level, and number of body acupuncture and counseling sessions received were associated with successful quitting. A multiple logistic regression model showed that sex, nicotine dependence level, and number of body acupuncture sessions received were predictors for successful quitting. Body and auricular acupuncture is effective in smoking cessation and should be considered as an alternative to help smokers in quitting, especially for those whose past attempts using conventional methods were in vain.

INTRODUCTION Alcohol and tobacco are often used together. Studies have shown that some biological factors contribute to the concurrent use of alcohol and nicotine. There have been comparatively few studies that document the concurrent prevalence and correlates of alcohol and tobacco use among adults. A better understanding of the smokers who also drink is needed to help them to quit smoking. METHODS A retrospective case review study on smokers who voluntarily joined our service in 2014–2017 was conducted. Characteristics of tobacco users only, and alcohol and tobacco co-users were reviewed. The quit rate of smoking related to alcohol use was analyzed. Participants were contacted by phone at week 26 and 52 to ascertain smoking status and abstinence. RESULTS There were 4602 alcohol and tobacco co-users and 2732 tobacco only users. Co-users had higher education level and better income than tobacco only users. In all, 52.24% of co-users were aged 21–40 years. For the alcohol users, their mean AUDIT score was only 6.17 (SD: 5.67). Multivariate analysis showed that age and gender were associated with co-use while high personal income had lower odds of co-use. Quit rate decreased as the AUDIT score increased. Those who had binge drinking more than once a month had lower quit rate compared with binge drinking less than once a month at week 26 (34.2% vs 43.19%, p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Alcohol and tobacco co-users should acknowledge alcohol–tobacco interactions to reduce alcohol use and prevent smoking relapse. Healthcare providers should screen for alcohol use in smoking cessation interventions.

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