[Effectiveness of a multicomponent smoking cessation intervention in primary care]

To evaluate the effectiveness of a multicomponent program applied by nurses in primary care.

A non-experimental pre-post study was carried out in 145 smokers from Area V of Asturias (Spain). The intervention consisted of a multicomponent group treatment program, applied for 7 weeks by primary care nurses.

The mean age was 52 years. Men accounted for 39.73% of the study population. The abstinence rate at post-treatment was 51.1% (95% CI: 42.4 to 59.6). At 12 months, the abstinence rate was 41.1% (95% CI: 32.6 to 49.6). The change between the end of the intervention and follow-up at 6 and 12 months was statistically significant at both time points (p = 0.035 and p = 0.013, respectively). Among participants who had stopped smoking, there was a statistically significant decline in daily cigarette consumption. Factors that were statistically significantly associated with continued smoking at 12 months were heavier smoking before the intervention, higher scores on the Fagerström test, and a lower number of sessions attended.

The multicomponent treatment program was highly effective. The results suggest the desirability of specific training for health professionals to implement this type of intervention in primary care as an alternative to medical advice for smokers who need it.