The effectiveness of a real-world smoking cessation clinic: A prospective cohort study

Smoking cessation clinics are an important component of tobacco control strategies. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a hospital-based smoking cessation clinic and to examine factors associated with successful smoking cessation in routine clinical practice.

A prospective cohort study was conducted at a Smoking Cessation Clinic in China. Smokers who attended the clinic between January 2021 and June 2025 were consecutively enrolled and followed up at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. The primary outcome was self-reported continuous abstinence at 6 months. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with successful quitting.

A total of 141 smokers were included in the study. The point prevalence abstinence rate was 33.82% at 1 month and 30.28% at 6 months. The rate of quit attempts increased from 73.53% at 1 month to 84.40% at 6 months. The multivariable analysis showed older age was positively associated with successful cessation (adjusted odds ratio, AOR=1.09; 95% CI: 1.01-1.18, p=0.02). Receiving smoking cessation support from parents (AOR=4.06; 95% CI: 1.22-13.52, p=0.02) and other individuals (AOR=6.84; 95% CI: 1.26-37.01, p=0.03) was associated with higher odds of quitting. Compared to smokers who had used smoking cessation drugs, those who had not used medications had lower odds of successful cessation (AOR=0.21; 95% CI: 0.06-0.74, p=0.02), while poorer self-rated health status was also linked to higher odds of abstinence (AOR=4.45; 95% CI: 1.22-16.19, p=0.02).

In a real-world Chinese cessation clinic, approximately one-third of smokers achieved six-month abstinence. Smoking cessation clinics may help support quit attempts and sustained abstinence among smokers seeking cessation services. Enhancing social support, improving access to pharmacotherapy, and strengthening risk communication may further improve cessation outcomes.