English

Tobacco cessation outcomes in a cohort of patients attending a chest medicine outpatient clinic in Bangalore city, southern India.

This article is from The Indian Journal of Medical Research , volume 139 . Abstract Background & objectives:: Nicotine dependence is a widely prevalent and harmful chronic addictive disorder. Quitting tobacco use is however, uncommon in India. We present long-term treatment outcomes of out-patient, tobacco cessation treatments from a specialty clinic setting in southern India. Methods:: Patients seen in a tobacco cessation clinic were characterized for tobacco use, nicotine dependence and motivation for quitting and offered pharmacologic/non-pharmacologic treatment. They were subsequently contacted telephonically at a mean (±standard deviation) of 24 (±9.1) months to assess tobacco cessation outcome defined as ‘point prevalence of 1-month abstinence’ by self-reporting. Results:: The mean age of participants was 48.0 ±14.0 yr. Tobacco use distribution was: beedis only (22%), cigarettes only (49%), beedis and cigarettes (18%), chewing only (2%), and smoking and chewing (9%). Two-thirds had high level of nicotine dependence. Of the 189 patients enrolled, only 15 per cent attended follow up clinics. Only 106 (56%) patients were successfully contacted telephonically and 83 (44%) were lo

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