Long‐term effectiveness of a nurse‐led smoking cessation clinic at a comprehensive cancer center

Abstract

AbstractPurposeSmoking cessation interventions should be promoted in cancer centers to improve clinical outcomes among cancer patients and the quality of life of cancer‐free patients and survivors. The aim of the present study was to examine long‐term abstinence (1, 3, and 5 years) among smokers who received an intensive nurse‐led smoking cessation intervention.DesignA prospective follow‐up study was conducted in a smoking cessation clinic in Barcelona.MethodsThe study included 479 smokers who received a nurse‐led smoking cessation intervention that included motivational interviewing, psychological support, behavioral change counseling, promotion of smoke‐free policies, and relapse‐prevention strategies, as well as pharmacotherapy if necessary, for 12 months. We calculated overall and sex‐specific 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year abstinence probabilities (Kaplan–Meier curves) and adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) of relapse with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using Cox regression.FindingsThe overall probability of abstinence at 1 and 5 years was 0.561 (95% CI: 0.516–0.606) and 0.364 (95% CI: 0.311–0.417), respectively. Females had a higher, but not significant, hazard ratio for relapse compared to males (aHR = 1.180; 95% CI: 0.905–1.538). Attending <5 visits was the most remarkable determinant of relapsing compared to attending 5–9 visits or ≥10 visits, both overall and by sex (p for trend: overall, p < 0.001; males, p = 0.007; and females, p < 0.001).ConclusionsAbstinence probability decreased over the 5‐year follow‐up but was relatively high. Males had higher abstinence rates than females in all follow‐up periods. Completeness of the intensive intervention was the main predictor of cessation.Clinical RelevanceSmoking cessation interventions should consider sex and incorporate strategies to increase adherence to obtain higher long‐term abstinence rates.