Spirometry and smoking cessation advice in general practice: a randomised clinical trial

Area of Science:

• General Practice
• Public Health
• Respiratory Medicine

Background:

• Assessing the efficacy of the minimal intervention strategy for smoking cessation in primary care settings.
• Investigating the impact of spirometry on smoking cessation success rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the success rate of smoking cessation using a minimal intervention strategy in general practice.
• To determine if incorporating spirometry influences the success rate of smoking cessation.

Main Methods:

• 16 general practitioners (GPs) received training in smoking cessation advice.
• Smokers were identified and those willing to quit were randomized to receive spirometry or be in a control group.
• Minimal intervention strategy was applied, with success rates compared at 6, 12, and 24 months.

Main Results:

• Out of 5590 patients, 1206 (22%) were identified as smokers; 221 attempted cessation.
• Sustained quit rates were 29% at 6 months, 19% at 1 year, and 15% at 2 years.
• A non-significant trend favored spirometry, but it did not significantly enhance smoking cessation success.

Conclusions:

• General practitioners can motivate approximately 20% of their smoking patients to quit.
• The minimal intervention strategy achieved a 1-year success rate of 19% and a 2-year rate of 15%.
• No evidence supports using lung function (spirometry) as a tool to improve smoking cessation rates in this context.