Effectiveness of a residential smoking cessation program for female heavy smokers in South Korea

Abstract

Background This study aimed to determine the characteristics of female heavy smokers participating in a residential smoking cessation program and the program’s effectiveness.Methods Data were collected from 119 female smokers registered in the Integrated System for Smoking Cessation Service, from September 1, 2015 through September 30, 2020. Participants attended a five-day residential smoking cessation program during hospital admission. The program included smoking cessation treatment by a psychiatrist, smoking cessation medication, health screening, smoking cessation education, individual and group clinical psychological therapy, physical activity programs, and nutritional counseling. Six months after the program, nine sessions of in-person or telephone-based smoking cessation counseling services were provided. Psychological evaluation—considering nicotine dependence, tobacco craving, smoking cessation motivation, perceived smoking cessation effect, smoking cessation self-efficacy, depression, and perceived stress—was conducted before and after participation to examine the program’s effectiveness.Results Participants’ states before and after the residential smoking cessation program were compared, and significant positive changes were observed in smoking cessation motivation, perceived smoking cessation effect, and smoking cessation self-efficacy. Success of the participants’ six-month smoking cessation was influenced by their depression levels and number of counseling sessions attended.Conclusions The participants followed a program based on a comprehensive healthcare approach, which was a critical determinant for the success of smoking cessation. To ensure effective smoking cessation in female heavy smokers, a female-specific counseling service should be developed and applied to increase the success rate of and maintain smoking cessation.