MILD-TERM EVALUATION OF A HELP PROGRAM FO R SMOKERS

BACKGROUND: Medical counsel io smokers is an intervention that has pro ved useful to motivate smokers to stop smoking. This study pretends ev aluate the long-term impact (2 years and 9 months) of systematic and s tructured health counsel on the smoke habit from the primary health ca re. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In April 1990, in four primary care centers from Barcelona and Zaragoza, Spain, a program oi systematic counsellin g ta stop smoking with an offer oi subsequent follow-up was initiated in all adult smokers (15-65 years of: age), According to the answer, e very patient was classified in one of seven established categories tha t allowed a individualized follow-up. Data from the total population i ncluded in the program from the beginning till January 1993, are analy zed. RESULTS: From 683 known smokers (59.2% males and 40.8% women), 20 were excluded for different reasons and 343 were included in the prog ram (56.4% cover), Average age of included smokers was 35.1 years (SE = 0.6) and average number of visits of 5.3 (SE = 0.2) which was signif icantly higher than those not included in the program (33.4; SE = 0.6, and 2.7; SE = 0.1), An average follow-up of 14.3 months (SE = 0.5) an d of 2.6 (SE = 0.1) interventions on each individual were done, The av erage daily number of cigarettes was 18.4 (SE = 0.6) in the initial pe riod and 13.3 (SE = 0.6) on the last program evaluation. The final ans wers showed a 18.1% of quitters and a decrease of more than 50% an the initial consume on 32.6%, In 12% the answer was negative. CONCLUSIONS : Programs of systematic help for smokers show a higher level of favou rable responses than does normal counselling.