Attempts to quit smoking, use of smoking cessation methods, and associated characteristics among COPD patients

We explored past-year quit attempts, cessation methods used, and associations with sociodemographic, smoking, and health-related characteristics among smoking patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Germany. Cross-sectional survey data of 509 past-year smokers (current smokers and ≤12 months abstinent) with COPD (ICD-10 code J44.x and FEV1/FVC <0.70) from 19 pulmonary primary care practices were used. Associations were explored between age, sex, educational qualification, lung function, urges to smoke, psychological distress, and (a) ≥1 past-year quit attempt (yes/no), (b) use of ≥1 evidence-based smoking cessation method (yes/no). Of all patients, 48.5% (n = 247, 95% confidence interval (CI) 44.2-52.9) reported ≥1 past-year quit attempt. Such an attempt was positively associated with the male sex (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.50, 95% CI 1.01-2.24) and negatively associated with time spent with urges to smoke (OR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.52-0.91). During the most recent past-year quit attempt, one-third of the patients used ≥1 evidence-based smoking cessation method (31.2%, 95% CI 25.4-37.0), which was positively associated with the strength of urges to smoke (OR = 1.62, 95% CI 1.09-2.41). Combined behavioural and pharmacological treatments were used by 4.0% (n = 10, 95% CI 1.6-6.5). Electronic cigarettes were used most frequently (21.5%, 95% CI 16.3-26.6). Although a high proportion of COPD patients in German pulmonary primary care attempt to quit smoking, only a few of them use evidence-based methods as assistance for quitting.