[The annual evaluation of a program to aid the smoker]

To evaluate the impact over a year of a systematic, structured intervention with smokers, called the Smokers' Aid Project (SAP), at a primary care centre in Barcelona.

Observational study with a descriptive intervention.

Urban primary care centre.

Between April, 1990, and March, 1991, every adult (over 15) who smoked more than one cigarette a day was counselled verbally and/or in writing. The different replies were placed into eight groups and a personal follow-up was made for each category. The groups were: winner, reduction, alone, with help, doubtful, backslider, negative and pending.

There was a follow-up on 178 people. Among those monitored, the initial cigarette average was 15.0 (SD 11.4) and the final, 12.45 (SD 11.45). The response was favorable (winner or reduction) in 35.4%, with 10.6% showing a favorable attitude (alone and with help) and 16.3% showing a negative response. A follow-up programme of 7.5 months (SD 3.5) was implemented, with an average of 1.82 (SD 1.05) interventions for each individual.

Programmes of systematic help to the smoker appear to provide more favorable responses than isolated counselling. The SAP can be put into practice within our Primary Care system, although effectiveness will have to be assessed over longer-term follow-ups.