One-year rate of smoking in balçova center and effect of nicotine dependence on relaps rate

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND: Smoking is the leading preventable causes of death in the world. Smoking cessation provides reduction in morbimortality as well as a better enviromental model for the adolescents at risk. There is growing evidence on the need for public based programs on smoking cessation. The main purpose of this study is to establish the rate of smoking cessation and ratio of restarting at one year in Balçova smoking cessation center. We also aimed to determine the effect of nicotine dependence on relaps rate.METHOD: This is a prospective study. The target group of the study was 746 objects who admitted to Smoking Cessation Center Balcova between October 2009-April 2010. 359 of the cases who quitted smoking for at least four weeks were enrolled in the study A minimum of 186 objects were required to be followed for a %50 relaps risk, %5 SD and %95 CI. The dependent variables of the study were one-year cessation rate and relaps rate. Independent variables were: socio-demographic characteristics, nicotine addiction, depression-anxiety level, presence of chronic disease, the treatment method used for smoking cessation and the properties related to smoking status. Individuals who reported restarting, and / or CO measurement above 6 ppm were accepted as resmokers. Chi-square analysis, T-test, Mantel Haenzel, Cox regression analysis, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and the log-rank test were used for statistical analysis.RESULTS: One year rate of smoking cessation was 30.1 % in the whole study group. 50.1% of objects who quitted smoking restart to smoke at one year of follow-up. The rate of smoking cessation was significantly lower in the objects with high level of nicotin dependency. Relaps rate was also higher in nicotin addicts. Pharmacological treatment was associated with increased success rates in smoking cessation. Survival analysis according to the treatment method showed that length of continuing smoking cessation was highest in vareniclin group.(p = 0.0001).CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Nicotine dependency was shown to be associated with lower rates of smoking cessation and higher rates of relaps. Because of this, it is important to begin smoking cessation attempts before the objects become strong addicts. Pharmacological treatment should be initiated for the objects with high level of dependency. Moreover, considering the success of pharmacological treatment in lowering relaps rate, it would be better to apply drug therapy routinely in smoking cessation programs.Key words: Smoking cessation, smoking relaps, Fagerstrom nicotine dependency level, smoking cessation treatment