Telephone-based smoking cessation. Predictors of success

Background and objective: To identify the predictors of successful outcome in a telephone smoking cessation program. Patients and methods: Observational study in the context of clinical practice in a smoking cessation clinic. The smoking cessation program was carried out by phone over a period of 3 months and follow-up for 6 months. Sociodemographic variables were analyzed, dependence, and comorbidity and the main variable was continuous abstinence at 24 weeks. Results: 743 smokers, 43% male and 57% female, mean (SD) age: 41.9 (9.8) years. The continuous abstinence rate at 24 weeks was 37.3% (IC 95% 34.9-40.0). The multivariable model showed three variables with predictive value: no current psychiatric diagnosis, social support and the first item of Fagerstrom test (time to first cigarette in the morning). Conclusions: Treatment outcomes of this smoking cessation program was influenced by the following variables: nicotine dependence, psychiatric disorders and social support. (C) 2011 Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.