[Development of a smoking cessation program during health checkups. Preliminary study to evaluate the usefulness of...

Development of a simple and effective smoking cessation program is needed to provide cessation counseling during health checkups. A new cessation program, which consists of brief individual counseling and 4 follow-up telephone calls, was developed based on the stage model for life-style change. This program was performed during health checkups in the town of Nose to evaluate its usefulness. Smoking status questionnaires were completed to assess the smoking habits of subjects and to evaluate their smoking stage before the counseling session. Then, stage-matched cessation counseling was provided using a self-help guide. During the counseling, carbon monoxide measurement of expired air and Health Risk Appraisal feedback were performed to enhance self-perception of smoking. Follow-up calls were provided for only those clients who set a quit date during the individual counseling. It was easy to implement this program, and it required between 15 and 20 minutes to conduct. The cessation rate was 19% at 8 months after the health checkups. This result was more effective than data for other programs reported previously. Therefore, this program was effective and could be used at health checkups. This trial had no control group, so further studies are needed to clarify the efficacy and effectiveness of this program. In addition, training courses for health professionals must be developed to disseminate this program into general use.