Journal Information
Vol. 39. Issue 7.
Pages 298-302 (July 2003)
Share
Share
Download PDF
More article options
Vol. 39. Issue 7.
Pages 298-302 (July 2003)
Full text access
Profile of smokers who seek treatment at a smoking cessation clinic
Perfil de los fumadores que solicitan tratamiento en una unidad de tabaquismo
Visits
8040
I. Nerína, A. Crucelaeguib, A. Masb, D. Guillénb
a Departamento de Medicina y Psiquiatría. Unidad de Tabaquismo FMZ. Facultad de Medicina. Universidad de Zaragoza. Spain.
b Especialistas en Medicina de Familia y Comunitaria. Unidad de Tabaquismo FMZ. Facultad de Medicina. Universidad de Zaragoza. Spain.
This item has received
Article information
Abstract
Full Text
Bibliography
Download PDF
Statistics
Tables (3)
Fig. 1. Distribution of subjects by age (numbers are percentages).
Fig. 2. Degree of nicotine-dependence. A: low dependence (0-3). B: moderate dependence (4-6). C: high dependence (>7).
Fig. 3. Reasons for cessation. A: prevention of disease. B: awareness of dependence. C: parental model for children.
Show moreShow less
Objectives: The variety of smoking cessation therapies that have proven effective ranges from simple counseling to intensive interventions. The objective of our study was to identify the characteristics of smokers who currently seek treatment at a smoking cessation clinic. Methods: Descriptive observational study. The target population consisted of smokers who sought treatment at a smoking cessation clinic. The following variables were studied: sex; age; referral source; marital status; educational level; age at which smoking began, age at which it became a regular habit and the time elapsed between the two moments; level of nicotine dependence (Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence); number of cigarettes per day; number of years smoking; use of other potentially-addictive substances (alcohol, caffeine, psychotropic medications and other drugs); presence of concomitant disease; previous attempts to quit smoking; current reasons for smoking cessation; and concentration of expired air carbon monoxide (CO). An initial medical history was taken from each smoker on the waiting list for treatment at the clinic in order to gather data on the study variables; these individuals were then enrolled in a 3-month group smoking cessation program that utilized both medication and cognitive-behavioral therapy. The results are presented in percentages and means with standard deviations (SD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: 385 smokers were studied--239 (62%) men and 146 (38%) women--the average age being 43.05 years (SD: 9.07). Mean nicotine-dependence (Fagerström Test score) was 6.05 (SD: 2.19); mean number of cigarettes per day: 25.9 (SD: 12.11); mean number of years as a smoker: 25.3 (SD: 9.04); and mean expired air CO: 39.30 (SD: 25.18). Associated disease was present as chronic bronchitis for 27.5% and cardiovascular risk factors for 15%. Previous attempts to quit smoking were reported by 72%; the reasons for the present attempt to quit smoking were the prevention of disease (38%), awareness of dependence (20%) and parental desire to serve as a positive role model for children (10%). Conclusions: At present, the smokers who attend a smoking cessation clinic are young, severely-dependent adults in the initial stage of preparing to quit. The prevalence of symptoms in this population is low. The profile of the population seeking specialized smoking cessation treatment is expected to change in the future as those with smoking-related diseases and other specific populations of smokers become included.
Keywords:
Smoking
Smoking cessation
Smoking cessation clinic
Objetivos: El tratamiento del tabaquismo incluye diversas intervenciones terapéuticas que han demostrado ser eficaces, desde el consejo mínimo hasta la atención intensiva. El objetivo de nuestro trabajo es conocer las características que presenta la población de fumadores que actualmente solicitan tratamiento de deshabituación tabáquica en una unidad de tabaquismo. Método: Estudio descriptivo observacional. La población objetivo fueron los fumadores que acuden a una unidad de tabaquismo para deshabituación tabáquica. Se estudiaron las siguientes variables: sexo, edad, procedencia, estado civil, nivel de formación, edad de primer consumo de tabaco y de consumo regular y tiempo transcurrido entre ambos, grado de dependencia a la nicotina (test de Fagerström), número de cigarrillos-día, número de años de fumador, consumo de otras sustancias con capacidad de originar adicción (alcohol, cafeína, psicofármacos, otras drogas), presencia de patología concomitante, intentos previos de cesación, motivos actuales de abandono y determinación de monóxido de carbono en aire espirado. A todos los fumadores incluidos en la lista de espera se les realizó una historia de primer día en la que se recogían las variables de estudio y se les incluía en un programa de deshabituación tabáquica en grupo, mediante tratamiento multicomponente (farmacológico y terapia cognitivo-conductual) a lo largo de 3 meses. Se presentan los resultados como proporciones y medias con sus desviaciones estándar (DE) y sus intervalos de confianza (IC) del 95%. Resultados: Se estudió a 385 fumadores 239 [62%] varones y 146 [38%] mujeres, con una edad media de 43,05 años (DE, 9,07). La dependencia media a la nicotina (test de Fagerström) fue de 6,05 (DE, 2,19); media de cigarrillos/día, 25,9 (DE, 12,11); media de número de años de fumador, 25,3 años (DE, 9,04), y media de monóxido de carbono, 39,30 (DE, 25,18). En cuanto a la presencia de patología asociada, el 27,5% de los pacientes presentaba bronquitis crónica, y el 15%, factores de riesgo cardiovascular asociados. El 72% había tenido intentos previos de cesación; los motivos actuales para dejar de fumar eran la prevención de enfermedades (38%), la conciencia de dependencia (20%) y el papel ejemplar para los hijos (10%). Conclusiones: Actualmente los fumadores que acuden a una unidad de tabaquismo son adultos jóvenes, en fase de preparación, con alto grado de dependencia y con escasa prevalencia de síntomas. En un futuro se prevé que la población que solicite tratamiento especializado se modifique, con la incorporación de fumadores con patología o características específicas.
Palabras clave:
Tabaquismo
Deshabituación tabáquica
Unidad de tabaquismo
Full Text

Introduction

The variety of smoking cessation therapies that have proven effective ranges from simple counseling to intensive interventions using medications -- either nicotine replacement therapy or bupropion -- in combination with cognitive-behavioral therapy1-5.

At present smoking is considered a chronic disease, given that it is a process that persists over time with periods of improvement (abstinence) and with a strong tendency to relapse1. As with other chronic diseases the treatment strategy should include both primary and specialized care. Various primary care protocols6 exist which identify the characteristics of smokers who can benefit from smoking cessation programs.

As is the case with other chronic health conditions, it is also necessary to define the level of the specialized care provided by smoking cessation clinics. To date, Spain has had relatively limited experience with these clinics. Though recommendations have been made as to how they should be organized and operated in this country7, they are presently covered by the public health system only in certain autonomous regions where they have been set up.

Smoking is the primary cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in developed countries8. According to the latest National Health Survey carried out in 2001 by the Ministry of Health, 34% of the population in Spain over the age of 16 smokes9. This high prevalence, together with the enormous cost of treatment of smoking-related diseases, underlines the need for therapeutic interventions aimed at reducing the numbers of smokers. As some authors have affirmed2,10, smoking cessation treatment is a priority intervention among the policies aimed at controlling smoking, given that treatment directly affects smoking-related morbidity and mortality in a population and therefore is the most cost-effective intervention in the short term, justifying the development of therapeutic services available at all levels of the system.

The objective of our study was to describe the profile of smokers who seek treatment at a smoking cessation clinic and thus contribute to establishing treatment criteria at a level of specialized care.

Material and methods

A descriptive observational study was carried out. The target population comprised smokers who voluntarily sought treatment at the Smoking Cessation Clinic of the University of Zaragoza School of Medicine (FMZ). The clinic is located in the School of Medicine and offers free treatment to smokers wishing to quit, under an agreement between the University of Zaragoza, the regional autonomous government of Aragon and an insurance company (Mutua de Accidentes de Zaragoza). The patients were representative of the general urban population and were either self-referred or referred to the clinic by their doctor at the workplace or a family physician. In all cases the smokers personally sought access to the program through an initial telephone call to the clinic.

The following variables were studied: sex; age; referral source; marital status; educational level; age at which smoking began, age at which it became a regular habit and the time elapsed between the two moments; level of nicotine dependence (measured by the Modified Fagerström Questionnaire for Nicotine)11; number of cigarettes smoked per day; number of years smoking; use of other potentially-addictive substances (alcohol, caffeine, psychotropic medications and other drugs); presence of concomitant disease; previous attempts to quit smoking; current reasons for smoking cessation; and expired air carbon monoxide (CO).

All of the patients seeking treatment at the smoking cessation clinic were placed on a waiting list; following that, an appointment was arranged for each, at which time the smoker's medical history was taken in order to gather data on the study variables and measure weight, blood pressure and CO in expired air. These individuals were then enrolled in a multicomponent treatment program (utilizing medication and psychotherapy). In all cases, the choice of pharmacologic therapy was discussed and agreed upon with the smoker in advance and determined according to the degree of nicotine-dependence previously diagnosed in the first interview. Either combined nicotine replacement therapy (fast-acting nicotine substitutes and/or the transdermal patch system) or bupropion was prescribed, depending upon the individual characteristics of each smoker and possible contraindications.

Severe psychiatric disorders or concurrent dependence on another addictive substance were considered exclusion criteria for patients seeking multi-component group smoking cessation treatment.

Expired air CO was measured with a CO-oximeter (Mini Smokerlyzer, Bedfont Scientific Ltd.), and findings above 10 ppm12 identified an individual as a smoker.

Nicotine dependence, as measured by the Fagerström Test, was considered low for individuals scoring 0 to 3; average for those scoring between 4 and 6; and high for those with scores above 713.

SPSS software in a Windows® operating system was used for the database, statistical analysis and data handling. The results are presented in percentages and means with standard deviations (SD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

The population sample comprised 385 smokers -- 239 (62%) men and 146 (38%) women -- with an average age of 43.05 years (SD: 9.07; 95% CI, 42.14-43.96 years). Figure 1 shows the sample distribution according to age.

Fig. 1. Distribution of subjects by age (numbers are percentages).

In 67.3% of the cases, subjects were referred to the clinic by their workplace physician, 17.4% were referred by their primary care physician and the remaining 15.3% were self-referred. The majority of the participants (72.5%) were married and 83% had children. Thirty-three percent of the study sample had received a basic education (elementary or early secondary schooling), 39% had received higher secondary education or vocational training and the remaining 28% had attended university.

Ninety-two of the participants began smoking between the ages of 8 and 20, the average age being 14.83 years (SD: 4.27; 95% CI, 14.40-15.27 years). The average age at which smoking became a regular habit was 17.7 years (SD: 4.59; 95% CI, 17.32-18.25 years). The mean interval of time between the age at which smoking began and the age at which it became a regular habit was 3 years (SD: 3.01; 95% CI, 2.69-3.30 years).

The mean Fagerström test score was 6.05 points (SD: 2.19; 95% CI, 5.83-6.27); 14% of the study sample scored as having low dependence (0-3); 42% medium dependence (4-6), and 44% high dependence (scores of 7 and above) (Fig. 2). Responses to the Fagerström questionnaire showed that 32.1% of the subjects smoked their first cigarette of the day within 5 minutes of waking and 35.5% smoked more than 30 cigarettes per day.

Fig. 2. Degree of nicotine-dependence. A: low dependence (0-3). B: moderate dependence (4-6). C: high dependence (>7).

The average number of cigarettes smoked per day was 25.9 (SD: 12.11; with 95% CI, 24.74-27.18 cigarettes per day), and the average number of years smoking was 25.3 (SD: 9.04); the mean concentration of CO in expired air measured at the initial interview (before smoking cessation) was 39.30 ppm (SD: 25.18; 95% CI, 36.75-41.84 ppm).

A study of the concomitant use of other potentially-addictive substances showed the following results: 26% of the subjects consumed alcohol on a daily basis, 92% consumed caffeine daily and 18% were taking psychotropic medications at the time the medical history was taken. Seven percent of the sample group had experimented with other drugs such as marijuana and cocaine though none of the subjects was using those substances at the time of the study.

Associated disease was present as chronic bronchitis for 27.5% of the sample studied while 9% had history of peptic ulcers, though none active at the time of the initial interview, and cardiovascular risk factors were present for 15%.

Seventy-two percent of the smokers in the study had tried to quit smoking on previous occasions; of these, 122 (46%) had made only one attempt at smoking cessation, and theirs was the most frequently encountered situation in our study population. The main reasons for giving up smoking were the prevention of disease (38%), awareness of dependence (20%) and parental desire to serve as a positive role model for children (10%) (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3. Reasons for cessation. A: prevention of disease. B: awareness of dependence. C: parental model for children.

Discussion

The individuals seeking treatment at this smoking cessation clinic were referred by their doctor at the workplace, their primary care physician or were self-referrals, indicating to us that it is a heterogeneous, representative sampling of smokers wishing to quit. The reason the majority of participants in this study were from work-related referrals is due to the fact that when the FMZ Smoking Cessation Clinic first went into operation its primary links were with clinics in the workplace. Nonetheless, regardless of the referral source, each participant voluntarily came to the clinic for smoking cessation treatment, which was offered at no cost other than for the purchase of medications that are not presently covered by the Public Health Service in Spain.

The fact that potential participants personally contacted the clinic by telephone to seek treatment and then were placed on a waiting list, served as a way to screen out smokers who, in accordance with the stages of change proposed by Prochazka and DiClemente14, were neither ready nor sufficiently motivated to quit smoking. When the medical histories were taken each subject chose his or her own quitting date, another criterion that indicates the individual is ready for smoking cessation13.

The average age of the subjects in the study was 43 years and most of the smokers showed no smoking-related disease. Approximately a quarter of the study sample (27.5%) presented with chronic bronchitis. That prevalence is lower than that described for smokers15, probably directly owing to the average age of the subjects studied. Thus, we can generally define the group as young adult smokers with no smoking-related diseases. One study on smoking cessation carried out in Spain16 describes very different characteristics for smokers who quit. The differences are probably due to the methodology used, given that the variables in that study were drawn indirectly from an analysis of a National Health Survey and referred to ex­smokers. Thus, the target group was not the same as that in our study and therefore could not serve as a valid point of comparison.

The prevalence of psychotropic medication use in the population at large has been determined to be slightly lower (14%)17,18 than that found in our study (18%), possibly owing to specific emotional and personality traits of smokers as yet not fully understood19.

The higher percentage of men to women in the sample studied reflects the current tendency of men to quit smoking in greater numbers than women. This observation is consistent with Stage 3 of the epidemiological model described by López et al20, which includes Spain, and with statistics gathered from a recent population survey in Catalonia (Spain)21,22.

We observed that the average age at which subjects began to smoke was 14.8 years (between 8 and 20 years of age), with a mean interval of 3 years between the age at which smoking began and the age at which it became a regular habit. These figures match those in the literature23,24.

The Fagerström test for nicotine dependence shows overall results of moderate dependence (mean value of 6)12, though individual analysis of questionnaire results for this group of smokers indicates that a minority (14%) of the subjects had low dependence and the majority had medium or high dependence, consistent with the mean concentration of expired CO (39.3) found. Along these same lines it has been postulated that smokers with low nicotine-dependence are able to quit smoking on their own while more severely nicotine-dependent smokers are those who seek smoking cessation treatment25.

An analysis of the two most weighted items in the Fagerström test26 (time elapsed before the first cigarette and number of cigarettes smoked per day) showed that one-third of the subjects smoked their first cigarette within 5 minutes of waking and smoked more than 30 cigarettes per day (32% and 35.5%, respectively); this finding is of interest because it sheds further light on degree-of-dependence and indicates that one-third of the subjects seeking smoking cessation treatment fit a severely nicotine-dependent profile as described by some authors27. Degree of dependence could be related to the average age of the subjects in the sample population (43 years) and is in keeping with a recent study of smokers in Europe which reports that the most severely nicotine-dependent smokers fall with the range of 35 to 65 years of age28.

The majority of the subjects (72%) had made a past attempt to quit smoking, which can be interpreted as indicating a high degree of dissonance and is consistent with the profile of this group as being, generally speaking, at the stage of preparing to quit29. We observed that the most frequently cited reason for wanting to quit smoking was prevention of disease -- in keeping with reports from other studies30 -- though other significant factors included awareness of dependence and parental desire to serve as a positive role model for children. Understanding the reasons behind smokers' desire to quit can be helpful in designing specifically-targeted smoking cessation interventions linked with both public and preventive health care policies.

The subjects enrolled in this smoking cessation clinic were not pre-selected to fit the described profile of the subgroup of smokers needing specialized treatment7; nonetheless, the results show this population sample to be severely nicotine-dependent young adults with a strong desire to quit smoking but showing no concomitant disease.

In the near future, with the development of a stepped-care model of smoking-cessation intervention in which treatment of smokers would come under the umbrella of primary and specialized care -- as is the case with any other chronic health problem31 -- we will see a larger sample group of people seeking specialized treatment. This will include a greater number of smokers with diseases (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, psychiatric disorders) as well as other specific groups of smokers such as pregnant women, older-aged smokers, etc. who do not currently represent a significant percentage of people seeking treatment at smoking cessation clinics. The few Spanish publications reporting on smoking cessation clinics and intensive interventions have demonstrated the efficacy of such programs32-35. Such reports will require us to direct resources to specialized smoking cessation services in Spain, a recommendation which has in fact been made in a recent report by the Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs36.


Correspondence: Dr. I. Nerín.

Departamento de Medicina y Psiquiatría. Facultad de Medicina, edificio B. Domingo Miral, s/n. 50009 Zaragoza. Spain

E-mail: isabelne@posta.unizar.es

Manuscript received 1 August 2002.

Accepted for publication 12 October 2002.

Bibliography
[1]
A US Public Health Service Report..
A clinical practice guideline for treating tobacco use and dependence..
JAMA, 283 (2000), pp. 3244-54
[2]
Lancaster T, Stead L, Silagy C, Sowden A..
Effectiveness of interventions to help people stop smoking: findings from the Cochrane Library..
Br Med J, 321 (2000), pp. 355-7
[3]
West R, McNeill A, Raw M..
Smoking cessation guidelines for health professionals: an update..
Thorax, 55 (2000), pp. 987-99
[4]
Russell MA.H, Wilson C, Taylor C, Baker CD..
Effect of general practitioners' advice against smoking..
Br Med J, 2 (1979), pp. 231-5
[5]
Jorenby DE, Leischow SJ, Nides MA, Rennard SI, Johnston JA, Hughes AH, et al..
A controlled trial of sustained-release bupropion, a nicotine patch, or both for smoking cessation..
N Engl J Med, 340 (1999), pp. 685-91
[6]
Subías Loren PJ, García-Mata JR, Pérula de Torres L y Grupo de evaluación del PAPPS..
Efectividad de las actividades preventivas analizada en el ámbito de centros de salud adscritos al Programa de Actividades Preventivas y de Promoción de la Salud (PAPPS) de la semFYC..
Aten Primaria, 25 (2000), pp. 383-9
[7]
Jiménez-Ruiz CA, Solano S, Barrueco M, De Granda JI, Lorza JJ, Alonso S, et al..
Recomendaciones para la organización y funcionamiento de las unidades especializadas en tabaquismo..
Arch Bronconeumol, 37 (2001), pp. 382-7
[8]
Tobacco or health: a global status report. Geneva: WHO, 1997.
[9]
Encuesta Nacional de Salud 2001. Avance de resultados. Madrid: Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo, 2002.
[10]
Raw M..
Fighting tobacco dependence in Europe..
Nature Medicine, 7 (2001), pp. 13-4
[11]
Fagerström KO, Schneider NG..
Measuring nicotine dependence: a review of the Fagerström tolerance nicotine questionnaire..
J Behav Med, 12 (1989), pp. 159-82
[12]
Jarvis M, Russell MA.H, Salojee Y..
Expired air carbon monoxide. A simple breath test for tobacco smoke intake..
Br Med J, 281 (1980), pp. 484-5
[13]
Grupo de Trabajo de Tratamiento del Tabaquismo del Área de Tabaquismo SEPAR..
Normativa para el tratamiento del tabaquismo..
Arch Bronconeumol, 35 (1999), pp. 499-506
[14]
Prochazka J, DiClemente CC..
Stages and process of self change of smoking: toward an integrative model of change..
J Consult Clin Psychol, 51 (1983), pp. 390-5
[15]
Álvarez-Sala JL, Cimas E, Masa JF, Miravitlles M, Molina K, Naberan P, et al..
Recomendaciones para la atención al paciente con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica..
Arch Bronconeumol, 37 (2001), pp. 269-78
[16]
García A, Hernández I, Álvarez-Dardet C..
El abandono del hábito tabáquico en España..
Med Clin (Barc), 97 (1991), pp. 161-5
[17]
Subdirección general de Epidemiología, Promoción y Educación para la Salud. Madrid: Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo, 1999.
[18]
Carrasco P, Astasio P, Ortega P, Jiménez R, Gil A..
Factores asociados al consumo de fármacos psicotropos en la población adulta española. Datos obtenidos a partir de las Encuestas Nacionales de Salud de España de los años 1993, 1995 y 1997..
Med Clin (Barc), 116 (2001), pp. 324-9
[19]
Casas Anguita J, Lorenzo Martínez S, López Lizana JP..
Tabaquismo. Factores implicados en su adquisición y su mantenimiento..
Med Clin (Barc), 107 (1996), pp. 706-10
[20]
López AD, Collishaw NE, Piha T..
A descriptive model of the cigarette epidemic in developed countries..
Tob Control, 3 (1994), pp. 242-7
[21]
Jané M, Saltó E, Pardell H, Tresserras R, Guayta R, Taberner JL, et al..
Prevalencia del tabaquismo en Cataluña, 1982-1998: una perspectiva de género..
Med Clin (Barc), 118 (2002), pp. 81-5
[22]
Villalbí JR, Pasarín MI, Nebot M, Borrell C..
Mortalidad por cáncer de pulmón: inicio de declive en los varones de Barcelona..
Med Clin (Barc), 117 (2001), pp. 727-31
[23]
Marín Tuyà D..
Tabaco y adolescentes: más vale prevenir..
Med Clin (Barc), 100 (1993), pp. 497-500
[24]
Barrueco M, Cordobilla R, Hernández-Mezquita MA, De Castro J, González JM, Rivas P, et al..
Diferencias entre sexos en la experimentación y consumo de tabaco por niños, adolescentes y jóvenes..
Arch Bronconeumol, 34 (1998), pp. 199-203
[25]
Fagerström KO, Kunze M, Schoberberger R, Breslau N, Hughes JR, Hurt RD, et al..
Nicotine dependence versus smoking prevalence: comparisons among countries and categories of smokers..
Tob Control, 5 (1996), pp. 52-6
[26]
Fagerström Consulting. Nicotine dose selection using time to first cigarette. Proceedings of the Fourth European Conference of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. Improving knowledge and treatments of nicotine addiction. Abstracts book, p. 22. Santander, October 2002.
[27]
Kunze M, Schoberberger R, Fagerström KO..
, October, Paris. Chester: Adis International.
, October, Paris. Chester: Adis International, (1994), pp. 58-62
[28]
Boyle P, Gandini S, Robertson C, Zatonski W, Fagerström K, Slama K, et al..
Characteristics of smokers' attitudes towards stopping..
Eur J Public Health, 10 (2000), pp. 5-14
[29]
Becoña E..
Estadios de cambio en la conducta de fumar: su relevancia en el tratamiento de fumadores..
Prev Tab, 2 (2000), pp. 106-12
[30]
Tratamiento del tabaquismo. Madrid: Dykinson, 1998.
[31]
Córdoba-García R, Nerín de la Puerta I..
Niveles de intervención clínica en tabaquismo..
¿Son necesarias las consultas específicas en atención primaria? Med Clin (Barc), 119 (2002), pp. 541-9
[32]
WHO Regional Office for Europe. Geneve: WHO, 2001.
[33]
Hajek P, West R..
Treating nicotine dependence: the case for specialist smokers' clinics..
Addiction, 93 (1998), pp. 637-40
[34]
Nardini S..
The smoking cessation clinic..
Monaldi Arch Chest Dis, 55 (2000), pp. 495-501
[35]
Raw M, McNeill A, West R..
Smoking cessation: evidence based recommendations for the healthcare system..
Br Med J, 318 (1999), pp. 182-5
[36]
Madrid: Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo, 2001.
Archivos de Bronconeumología
Article options
Tools

Are you a health professional able to prescribe or dispense drugs?