Smoking cessation programme in hospitalised patients due to acute respiratory disease

BACKGROUND: Hospital environment is generally propitious to smoking cessation for several reasons, such as a legal ban on smoking in hospital facilities, greater vulnerability facing acute illness and the continuous contact with healthcare professionals. AIMS: To evaluate the effectiveness of intensive smoking cessation intervention during hospital admission due to acute respiratory disease and a 6-month follow up after hospital discharge. METHODS: This prospective study included patients admitted at our Pulmonology Department due to acute respiratory disease - active smokers who consented to participate in smoking cessation counselling programme - between January and December 2019. After hospital discharge, the patients completed a 6-month follow up. Statistical analysis was performed with spss system version 24.0, using univariate analysis with Chi-squared and t-test. RESULTS: We included 30 patients, 86.7% male, with a mean age of 58.6 ± 13.6 years. The mean length of stay was 10 ± 11 days. The mean smoking time was 40.3 ± 14.4 years and the mean smoking load 40 ± 26 pack-year units. The mean level of nicotine dependence, measured by the Fagerström test, was 4.3 ± 2.8. None of the patients accepted smoking cessation pharmacological therapy. After hospital discharge, 19 patients were seen in consultation, 11 of whom maintained smoking cessation at 6 months, determining an overall smoking cessation rate of 36.7%. There was a statistically significant difference in the smoking cessation successful group regarding the motivation to quit smoking and the Richmond test compared to the unsuccessful group. CONCLUSION: Smoking cessation counselling behaviour programmes during hospitalisation, with regular follow up after hospital discharge, contribute to an increase in smoking cessation rate.