Results of a quit-smoking research project in a randomly selected population

In the spring of 1973, 58 strictly randomized heavy smokers from a defined population of men born in 1914 were asked to quit smoking, at least for 8-9 weeks, as a part of a research project focused upon the relationship between smoking and peripheral blood flow, fibrinolysis, and lung function. Eighty-eight per cent of the smokers were willing to try to quit smoking. Seven (12%) refused at the outset, as they regarded quitting as impossible. Of the remaining 51 it was possible to keep 31 (60%) free from smoking for 8-9 weeks with the aid of an intense anti-smoking program lasting 6 weeks. Checks of continued smoking abstention were made by questionnaire and COHb-determination. After six weeks, no further information was given to the subjects. A follow-up after 8-9 months revealed that 33% of the 51 participants (i.e. 29% of the original 58) were still non-smokers. The long-lasting effect of our quit-smoking method was equal to the best reported by others and 30% is probably the highest rate of long-term success to be achieved in smoking cessation.