PREDICTORS OF SMOKING CESSATION FOLLOWING PHYSICIANS COUNSELING

Background The purpose of this study was, to identify predictors of qu itting following general practitioners' (GP) anti-smoking counseling. Methods. We studied determinants (characterized following the Precede framework) of successful quitting (1 year sustained abstinence, bioche mically confirmed at 6- and 12-month follow-up) among 861 smokers rand omized to the intervention groups based on repeated counseling (RC), R C+spirometric testing, and RC+nicotine gum, in a smoking cessation tri al carried out in Turin, Italy. Results. GPs' intervention worked best for male (OR=2.30; 95%CI, 1.13-4.52) and married (OR=3.63; 95%CI, 1.3 7-9.59) smokers, for smokers who had maintained abstinence for at leas t 1 month in the past (OR=6.78; 95%CI, 1.56-29.52) or at their first q uit attempt (OR=10.91; 95%CI, 2.37-50.13), and for those who spontaneo usly reduced their coffee consumption (OR=3.30; 95%CI, 1.59-6.82); hea vy smokers (>=20 cig/day OR=0.48; 95%CI, 0.24-0.93) and those living w ith other smokers (>=1 smokers in the household: OR=0.44; 95%CI, 0.22- 0.90) were less likely to give up. Previous antismoking advice by the GP represented a strong barrier to success for healthy smokers (OR=0.1 9; 95%CI, 0.07-0.52), but not for those reporting symptoms of shortnes s of breath (OR=0.63; 95%CI, 0.39-9.20). There were no interactions be tween predictors and treatment conditions. Conclusions. Assessment of factors influencing quitting would allow GPs to tailor their message t o address existing barriers and to help patients utilize their resourc es for change. (C) 1998 American Health Foundation and Academic Press.