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| Authors | A Manche M Debono |
| Abstract | Various treatments are currently available to smokers to help them overcome nicotine addiction. The success of these methods, including group therapy, nicotine replacement, medication and others, singly or in combination, rarely exceeds 30% at one year follow-up. We studied 300 consecutive patients who underwent coronary revascularisation 6 to 8 years previously. A questionnaire was followed up with telephone assistance where necessary. 253 patients (84%) responded. Of the 153 patients who smoked pre-operatively (60%: 74% of males and 12% of females), 127 (83%) stopped smoking. Of the 25 relapsers 14 smoked during the 2 months before their surgery, and a further 7 up to the time of their operation (81% of relapsers smoked to within 2 months of surgery versus 40% of quitters). 19% of relapsers had a smoking spouse versus 11% of quitters. Smoking cessation was not influenced by gender (85% for males, 60% for females), severity of smoking (31% of relapsers smoked over 30 per day versus 45% of quitters), exposure to passive smoking (58% of relapsers exposed to passive smoking versus 42% of quitters) or the number of attempts at quitting (58% of relapsers attempted more than once versus 53% of quitters). Quitters were not influenced by third parties, claiming health worries or personal determination as the over-riding factor. Spouses were not influenced by the patients operation. Responders overwhelmingly believed that smoking is addictive and harmful, and should be banned from public places. Our policy is to help patients stop smoking before their surgery and for life. Patients requiring urgent surgery are not delayed, but in routine cases time is spent trying to quit smoking. This strategy has proved effective. |
Published in: | |
| Journal | Malta Medical Journal |
| Volume | 15 Issue 1-2/suppl. 2003 |
| Pages | - |
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| Key words | smoking cessation, coronary revascularisation |