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

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Previous studies have shown that adherence to treatment is fundamental to success in smoking cessation. However, smoking cessation medication regimens are limited significantly by the struggle to adhere to them. This study was conducted to evaluate the factors associated with treatment adherence and quitting success in a group of patients that applied to our smoking cessation outpatient clinic (SCC). METHODS Patients that applied to SCC between April 2015 and December 2016 who were evaluated, found suitable for smoking cessation interventions and started pharmacological treatment were included in this study. Only those who could be reached by phone three months after their first application became participants. Those who had used the prescribed treatment for at least 30 days were grouped as treatment-adherent. RESULTS In total, data for 346 patients were evaluated. Mean (±SD) age was 44.3±13.9 years; most of them were male (63%), primary school graduated (36.1%), self-employed (43.7%), and had no comorbid diseases (71%). Bupropion was started in 52% of the patients, that rate was 35.8% for varenicline and 12.1% for a combination of the nicotine patch and gum. Mean days for treatment use was 20.9±18.5; 59% of the patients were non-adherent to their treatment and 51.7% had only one control visit number. Adverse reactions due to treatment were recorded in 25% of participants, and at their third month 37.9% of them had quit smoking. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, increase in control visit number, absence of adverse reaction, and varenicline use, were each associated with higher treatment adherence (p<0.001) and only being in the treatment-adherent group was associated with quit success (OR=3.01, 95% CI: 1.88–4.81, p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS This study showed that most patients did not use their prescribed SC treatments adequately; a main factor that affects quit success is treatment adherence. There is a need for closer monitoring and follow-up to ensure adequate use of treatment of patients.

Peer support for smoking cessation: a protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis

“… Tobacco abstinence rate Short-term abstinence: < 3 months after quitting day [ 16 ] Medium-term abstinence: > 3 months and < 12 months after quitting day Long-term abstinence: > 12 months after quitting day [ 17 ] …”

Smoking cessation – better together: A retrospective cohort study

“…A longer duration of treatment increases the odds of successful quitting. This finding highlights the importance of adherence to therapy in supporting participants who seek to quit smoking 24 . The method and intensity of the therapeutic framework chosen (intensive group counseling, personal phone counseling, or brief GP counseling) proved insignificant in this study, suggesting it may be best to tailor counseling to individual participants rather than adopt a ‘one-size-fits-all’ policy 9 .…”

Long-term outcomes of smoking cessation outpatient clinic: A single center retrospective cohort study from the Eastern Black Sea Region of Türkiye

“…The rate of successful quitters at outpatient smoking cessation clinics ranges 11-45% at six months to one year follow-up, depending on the characteristics of the smoker samples 6,13,[16][17][18] . In our study, quit rates were found to be 36.4% in those aged ≥65 years, 19.6% in the 45-64 age range, 23.6% in the 25-44 age range, and 6.6% in those aged <25 years.…”

“…Data were recorded on online Tobacco Addiction Treatment Monitoring System (TUBATIS) and manually to previously created files. Detailed steps of the online system have been described in previous studies 5,13 . At the final step of TUBATIS system, FTND scores 14 were automatically calculated, and the patients were informed about the planned treatment.…”