[Smoking cessation program using nicotine patch among physicians and pharmacists of Catalonia: results after 3-12...

Smoking abstinence rates of a group of 300 physicians and pharmacists of Catalonia (Spain) who participated in an open non-controlled follow-up design study with nicotine patch, are presented. Were eligible all the individuals who regularly smoke more than 15 cigarettes/day and get Fagerström Test score of 5 or more. Those who smoke more than 20 cig/day were offered a 3-month 24-hour transdermal nicotine treatment (30-20-10 schedule) and those smoking between 15 and 20 cig/day, received the 20-20-10 schedule. A follow up of participants was carried out at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. After one year, 12 participants (4%) were dropped out. The overall abstinence rates at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months were respectively 55.9% (IC95%: 50.2-61.6), 42.7% (IC95%: 37.0-48.4), 35.4% (IC95% 29.9-40.9), 33.7% (IC95%: 28.2-39.2). Among predictive cessation variables, only those who had mad 1 to 3 previous attempts and those with only "cold turkey" (or slow reduction) quit experience, obtained statistically better results at 3 months. These results seem to be as good as or even better than those obtained in other similar studies with nicotine patch.