Factors Affecting the Prediction of Smoking Cessation Success in Patients Admitted to a Family Health Center

Objective: Smoking status should be questioned in every clinical interview and smoking cessation should be recommended to patients who smoke. Family physicians are in a unique position in the fight against tobacco addiction because they are the first point of contact for patients, provide continuity of care and prioritise preventive health services. Our study aimed to investigate the factors affecting the prediction of smoking cessation success in patients applying to the family health centre. Materials and Methods: Patients registered in the Family Medicine Department of Konya Karatay were the population of the descriptive study. The data of the questionnaire form completed by 292 participants on a voluntary basis were analyzed. The questionnaire included sociodemographic characteristics, questions about smoking, Fagerström Nicotine Dependence Test (FNDT ) and Smoking Cessation Success Prediction Scale (SCSPS).
Results: The mean age of the participants was 33.11±12.42 (min:18; max:72) years, 41.4% (n=121) were highly nicotine dependent and 57.5% (n=168) had been advised to quit smoking by a doctor. The mean total score of the SCSPS was 33.96±7.67 (min:13; max:50). Participants who were female, aged 45 years or older, married, had children, had low nicotine dependence, had tried to quit smoking before and had been advised to quit smoking by a doctor had statistically significantly higher mean scores in their categories compared to others (p<0.05). A moderate negative correlation was found between the total score of the SCSPS and the Fagerström score (r=-272; p=<0.001).
Conclusion: Despite the moderate scores of the participants in predicting smoking cessation success, a significant finding indicates that patients who received prior medical advice to quit were more likely to achieve successful smoking cessation. It is important that primary health care services play an active role in tobacco control to increase smoking cessation rates.