The Effectiveness of a Smoking Cessation Initiative Among Employees in a Textile Factory

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Public Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Smoking remains a significant public health issue, particularly in industrial settings.
• Workplace interventions offer a unique opportunity to address smoking cessation among large employee populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a smoking cessation initiative implemented for smokers in a Turkish textile factory.
• To identify factors associated with successful smoking cessation within this occupational group.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cohort study involving 821 smoking textile factory workers.
• Interventions included cognitive behavioral therapy and, when necessary, pharmacological treatment.
• Smoking cessation was verified at three months using a carbon monoxide breath monitor.

Main Results:

• A high success rate of 74.3% in smoking cessation was observed.
• The use of pharmaceutical aids was reported by 63% of successful quitters.
• Employment in the finishing department and the use of pharmaceutical aids were linked to higher cessation success.

Conclusions:

• Workplace-based smoking cessation programs demonstrate substantial impact on worker quit rates.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy and pharmacological aids are key components associated with successful smoking cessation.
• Targeted interventions within specific departments may enhance program efficacy.