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A cluster randomized trial in general practice with referral to a group-based or an Internet-based smoking cessation
Charlotta Pisinger1, Michael Milo Jørgensen, Niels Erik Møller
1Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Ndr. Ringvej, Glostrup University Hospital, DK-2600 Glostrup, Denmark. chpi@glo.regionh.dk
Journal of Public Health (Oxford, England)
|July 21, 2009
Summary
General practitioners referring smokers to group or internet-based cessation programs showed no additional effect on abstinence rates. Improvements in smoking cessation interventions in general practice are needed.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- General Practice
- Smoking Cessation
Background:
- Smoking cessation interventions in general practice require improvement.
- General practitioners (GPs) play a key role in smoking cessation.
- Evidence-based strategies are needed to enhance intervention effectiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of referring patients to group-based or internet-based smoking cessation programs.
- To compare smoking cessation rates between different referral strategies.
- To identify potential improvements for smoking cessation interventions in primary care.
Main Methods:
- Cluster randomized trial involving 24 general practitioners in Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Three groups: referral to group-based counseling, referral to an internet-based program, or usual care.
- 1518 smokers included, with 760 completing a 1-year follow-up questionnaire.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in point abstinence rates between referral groups (6.7% vs. 5.9% vs. 5.7%).
- Low uptake of group counseling (40 smokers) and internet program (75 logins).
- No significant additional effect of referrals on cessation rates (ORs 1.05 and 0.91).
Conclusions:
- Referring patients to specialized smoking cessation programs did not improve cessation rates in this study.
- Limited GP time dedicated to smoking cessation and participant selection may have influenced results.
- Further research is needed to optimize smoking cessation support within general practice.
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