Search

Aim: To identify the predictors of six-month continuous abstinence among Greek smokers treated in a Smoking Cessation Clinic, emphasising the role of sleep disturbance on the outcome., Methods: A nested case-control design was used. Patients who attended the Smoking Cessation Clinic between November 2004 and October 2005, and who completed six months of follow-up, constituted the final study population (N=285). The patients were separated into two groups - those who managed to quit smoking and those who didn't. The cessation method included pharmacotherapy, one-to- one behavioral counselling, and follow-up by telephone communication., Results: Among various baseline characteristics examined, multivariate regression analysis indicated that the time to first cigarette after awakening, and use of bupropion, independently predicted abstinence, while awakening during the night was negatively associated with abstinence., Conclusion: These multivariate factors, which can positively or negatively affect the outcome, should be taken into account so that smoking cessation treatment can be individualised.

Smoking-related disparities exist among racial/ethnic minoritized groups. We compared quit ratios and smoking cessation-related protective and risk factors by race/ethnicity to inform approaches to reduce disparities. Among adults who smoke with a quit attempt from Wave 4 (2016–2017) Population Assessment of Tobacco Use and Health Study, the following factors were examined by racial/ethnic group (American Indians/Alaska Native [AI/AN;n = 165], Black/African American [AA;n = 526], Asian [n = 38], Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Spanish [n = 475], or White [n = 1,960]), wherein each were nearly gender-balanced: cessation medications, counseling/self-help materials, home smoking ban, social support, e-cigarette use, sleep, and mental health. Quit ratio was lower for AI/AN (adjusted odds ratio[aOR]:0.61) and Black/AA (aOR:0.49) and higher for Asian (aOR:1.90) and Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Spanish (aOR:1.30) than White adults. Medication use was low among all and lower among Black/AA (aOR:0.70) and Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Spanish (aOR:0.56) than White adults. Use of counseling/self-help materials were low among all and higher in AI/AN (aOR:1.85), Black/AA (aOR:1.87), and Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Spanish (aOR:1.49) than White adults. Presence of a smoking ban was lower among Black/AA (aOR:0.40) and higher in Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Spanish (aOR:1.59) than White adults. E-cigarette use was lower in Black/AA (aOR:0.53) and Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Spanish (aOR:0.43) than White adults. Sadness, anxiety, and sleep difficulties were higher in AI/AN (aORs:1.57, 1.50, 1.64) than White adults. All racial/ethnic groups would benefit from policies and programs that increase cessation medications and counseling. Quit ratios were particularly low among Black/AA and AI/AN adults. Black/AA adults may benefit from efforts to increase smoking bans, while AI/AN adults may benefit from cessation approaches that simultaneously target sleep and mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Smoking is a chronic disease not only responsible for numerous premature deaths every year, but also for substantial financial burden on health systems. Greece is still one of the leading countries in European Union (EU) in prevalence and incidence of smoking, a fact leading to even higher rates of morbidity and mortality and increases the cost of healthcare. The aim of this study is to identify predictors which play a role in a successful smoking cessation effort in three and six months, in Greek patients, who visited a smoking cessation clinic. METHODS: The research designed as a "case - control" study. Participants were patients who visited the smoking cessation clinic and agreed to take part in the research, answered all the questions needed and could be re-evaluated after three and six months. Out of 231 patients who visited the clinic during a year, 100 fulfilled the above criteria and were divided into two groups; those who succeeded in smoking cessation and those who failed; Fagerström (FNDT), Minnesota (MNWS) and Rosenberg questionnaires, along with questions about epidemiologic and other features were used to evaluate the patients. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify predictors which played a role in successful smoking cessation. RESULTS: Among various characteristics examined, multivariate regression analysis indicated that "difficulty in concentration" of the MNWS as well as the whole score of MNWS and FNDT and the reduced number of cigarettes after work independently predicted smoking cessation. CONCUSIONS: This research confirms that the answers of smokers in both MNWS and FNDT should be taken under consideration for personalized medicine in smoking cessation treatment. Moreover, smoking cessation programs at workplaces should be implemented, because it seems that the increased number of cigarettes at work associates with higher smoking cessation success rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insomnia symptoms are associated with smoking and may interfere with smoking cessation. Specifically, studies have shown that smoking-related sleep problems are associated with long-term smoking relapse, and longer sleep duration is associated with successful smoking cessation. However, it is currently unclear whether pre- or post-quit insomnia symptoms are associated with smoking cessation outcomes. As such, the current study aimed to extend previous findings by using a measure of insomnia symptoms as a predictor of smoking cessation failure by Month 3 following smoking cessation treatment. Additionally, we examined whether post-quit insomnia symptoms predicted cessation outcomes. Results indicated that pre-, but not post-quit insomnia, predicted smoking cessation failure by 3-month post-cessation, after covarying for depressive symptoms, anxiety sensitivity, alcohol use disorder severity, treatment condition, and number of cigarettes per day. These findings add to the literature on insomnia symptoms as a risk factor for difficulties with smoking cessation, and suggest it may be a worthy clinical target for smoking populations who are interested in quitting smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Greece has the highest proportion of smokers in the European Union with 42% of Greeks admitting that they smoke, based on a 2009 survey. This post-hoc analysis of a prospective, observational study evaluated the effectiveness and safety profile of the smoking cessation aid varenicline, as well as potential predictors of quit success in a Greek population. Methods: Participants were prescribed varenicline according to the recommendations of the European Summary of Product Characteristics (1 mg twice daily). The 7-day point prevalence of abstinence at Week 12 was determined based on verbal reporting using a nicotine use inventory. Abstinence was confirmed by carbon monoxide measurements of exhaled air at the last visit of the study. The safety profile of varenicline was also assessed. Results: At baseline, the Greek subsample (n = 196) had a mean age of 42.6 years, with 54.6% of them being men. Participants had a smoking history of 23.5 years and a Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence total score of 6.6. After 12 weeks of varenicline therapy, 70.4% (95% CI, 64.0-76.7) of all participants had quit smoking. This increased to 86.2% among participants who had taken the study medication for 80% of the planned number of treatment days. Age was a significant predictor of quit success. The most frequently observed treatment-emergent adverse event was nausea, occurring in 13.3% of participants. Conclusions: In this 'real-world' observational study, 70.4% of Greek smokers successfully quit smoking after 12 weeks of varenicline therapy, providing support that varenicline is an effective smoking cessation medication. Further studies with longer follow-up are warranted. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00669240 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Primary health care (PHC) settings offer opportunities for tobacco use screening and brief cessation advice, but data on such activities in South Africa are limited. The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which participants were screened for and advised against tobacco use during consultations. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 500 participants, 18 years and older, attended by doctors or PHC nurses. Using an exit-interview questionnaire, information was obtained on participants' tobacco use status, reason (s) for seeking medical care, whether participants had been screened for and advised about their tobacco use and patients' level of comfort about being asked about and advised to quit tobacco use. Main outcome measures included patients' self-reports on having been screened and advised about tobacco use during their current clinic visit and/or any other visit within the last year. Data analysis included the use of chi-square statistics, t-tests and multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: Of the 500 participants, 14.9% were current smokers and 12.1% were smokeless tobacco users. Only 12.9% of the participants were screened for tobacco use during their current visit, indicating the vast majority were not screened. Among the 134 tobacco users, 11.9% reported being advised against tobacco use during the current visit and 35.1% during any other visit within the last year. Of the participants not screened, 88% indicated they would be 'very comfortable' with being screened. A pregnancy-related clinic visit was the single most significant predictor for being screened during the current clinic visit (OR = 4.59; 95%CI = 2.13-9.88). Conclusion: Opportunities for tobacco use screening and brief cessation advice were largely missed by clinicians. Incorporating tobacco use status into the clinical vital signs as is done for pregnant patients during antenatal care visits in South Africa has the potential to improve tobacco use screening rates and subsequent cessation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]