Factors related to nicoti̇ne withdrawal symptoms and their effects on smoking cessation

Objectives: It was aimed to investigate the factors associated with nicotine withdrawal symptoms and their effects on smoking cessation in participants who applied to smoking cessation outpatient clinics (SBP). For this purpose, nicotine withdrawal symptoms and smoking cessation success of participants who applied to SBP between January 2022 and March 2022 were evaluated. Materials and Methods: Our prospective study was carried out with 102 participants who applied to Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University Training and Research Hospital Family Medicine SBP and İzzet Baysal Psychiatric Hospital SBP between January 2022 and March 2022. The data of the smoking cessation outpatient clinics patient follow-up form, which includes information about the sociodemographic, smoking history and the Fagerstrom Nicotine Dependence Test (FNBT) to determine the level of nicotine addiction, Questionnaire on Smoking Urge (QSU)) to determine the level of smoking desire, Smoking Decisional Balance Scale to measure positive and negative perceptions about smoking, General Self- Efficacy Scale to measure their self-efficacy, Perceived Stress Scale was applied to measure stress levels against events. Smoking cessation and nicotine withdrawal symptoms of the participants were followed for 6 months. Results: A total of 102 participants, 65 male and 37 female, participated in our study. Participants who did not smoke for 6 months were considered to have quit smoking. In our study, it was observed that 28.4% of the participants who applied to SBP quit smoking. FNBT and QSU scores were significantly lower in those who quit smoking. Health concerns were the most common reasons for wanting to quit smoking. Irritability, increased appetite, and tobacco xiii craving were common withdrawal symptoms. There was a significant relationship between the Decisional Balance Scale and the presence of withdrawal symptoms. There was a relationship between FNBT and symptoms of impaired concentration, restlessness, and tobacco craving. There was a correlation between QSU and the symptom of increased appetite. There was a correlation between Decisional Balance Scale and irritability and restlessness. There was a correlation between the General Self-Efficacy Scale and the anxiety symptom. Scales associated with smoking cessation were FNBT, QSU and Smoking Decisional Balance Scale. No significant difference was observed between the participants who quit smoking and those who could not, in terms of age, gender, marital status and comorbidity. Conclusion: When the factors associated with nicotine withdrawal symptoms and their effects on smoking cessation, were examined, it was seen that the success of smoking cessation was higher in those who had lower FNBT and QSU scores and those with a lower score on the Benefits of Smoking Scale, which is a subscale of the Smoking Decisional Balance Scale. It was observed that the increase in appetite was higher in those with high QSU scores. The rate of high level of nicotine addiction was high in those who experienced symptoms of impaired concentration. After determining the factors associated with withdrawal symptoms in patients admitted to SBP, a more effective, targeted and more successful approach can be revealed in smoking cessation outpatient clinics. Keywords: Tobacco, nicotine addiction, smoking cessation