Implementation and effectiveness of a hospital smoking cessation service in Germany

Hospitalized smokers are often highly motivated to quit and receptive to assistance. There are few published accounts of hospital-based smoking cessation programmes implemented outside of a trial setting, particularly outside North America. We describe the implementation and effectiveness of a dedicated smoking cessation service in Freiburg, Germany.

Measures of implementation (e.g. number of patients referred and consenting to participate, receipt of post-discharge support) and effectiveness are presented.

In the first 2 years of the service, 1432 patients were referred. Over half (55.3%) of counselled smokers agreed to participate. Sustained abstinence for 6 months was achieved by 28.0% (missing cases coded as smokers), whereas 7-day point prevalence rates were between 30 and 35% at 3, 6 and 12 months. Those who received 4+ post-discharge calls were more likely to achieve sustained abstinence, as were older smokers, those with higher self-efficacy, and cardiovascular patients.

Hospitalized patients in Germany are receptive to the offer of bedside counselling and to phone support post-discharge, and success rates are comparable to those achieved in other countries.

The findings argue strongly for the routine identification of smokers upon hospital admission, and the availability of cessation support both during hospitalization and following discharge.