Smoking cessation rate and factors affecting the success of quitting in a smoking cessation clinic using telephone follow-up

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

China has the largest number of smokers in the world. The great majority of China’s smokers desire to quit smoking (QS); however, the success rate of self-quitting is low. This study investigated the effects of smoking cessation (SC) clinics in a cancer hospital in Hunan province and determined the influencing factors of successful SC.

METHODS

Smokers were recruited to QS by healthcare workers in the SC clinic from February 2015 to February 2019. SC counseling was provided and telephone follow-up was conducted at 1 week, and at 1, 3 and 6 months. Patients who continued SC during the follow-up period were considered to have QS.

RESULTS

Of the 344 patients included in this study, 16.3% QS at one week, 26.5% at one month, 27.6% at three months, and 31.7% at six months. Age ≥60 years, previous SC attempts, immediate quit dates, and telephone follow-up times (3–4 calls) were predictive factors for smokers to SC at six months.

CONCLUSIONS

Age, previous attempts to QS, immediate quit dates and telephone follow-up times were independent predictors of SC success at six months. SC clinics and frequent telephone follow-up improve the success rate of SC, especially in patients who have previously tried to QS or in those who set immediate quit dates.

INTRODUCTION

Smoking can lead to coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other diseases in several organs¹. The adult smoking rate in China is 26.6% (male: 50.2%, female: 2.1%) and the country has the most smokers in the world (approximately 308 million)². Each year, more than one million people in China die due to smoking, and it is estimated that the number of deaths caused by tobacco will reach 3 million in the year 2050³. Therefore, quitting smoking (QS) is an important public health goal for China.

While it is beneficial for smokers to quit smoking at any age, the earlier a person quits, the greater the benefit⁴. The adult smoking cessation (SC) rate in China increased from 2010 (16.9%) to 2018 (20.1%), but it is still at a low level^2,5. It has been reported that 19.8% of Chinese smokers have tried to QS in the past year; however, most of these attempts failed due to the uncontrollable desire to smoke and nicotine withdrawal symptoms². Behavioral support has been used as part of SC counseling and interventions in SC clinics are low-cost and could double an individual’s likelihood of quitting successfully⁶. A meta-analysis reported that individuals provided with behavioral support for at least six months had a 40–80% increased chance of successfully quitting smoking⁷. In addition, the frequency and intensity of behavioral interventions have a strong dose-response relationship with the success rate of SC⁶, and a telephone follow-up intervention can increase the SC rate⁸.

A number of studies have reported that men, older age, previous attempts to QS, lower Fagerström test for nicotine dependence (FTND) scores, greater motivation to QS, and more consultation sessions are factors related to successful SC^9,10. Results of a prospective study in six Chinese cities showed that previous SC attempts, willingness to quit immediately and negative opinion of smoking, were factors that predicted making SC attempts, while older age, longer period of SC and willingness to quit immediately were independent predictors of SC success¹¹. In Hunan, as elsewhere in inland provinces in China, there has been a lack of data regarding to evaluating the effectiveness of smoking cessation clinic interventions and factors that affect smoking cessation, which is not conducive to the development of smoking cessation clinics and the implementation of effective smoking cessation interventions. In addition, the studies had focused on the factors influencing smokers’ success in QS that needs to be further explored.

Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the factors that predict successful SC in an SC clinic in inland China. The roles of telephone follow-up and behavioral support in the process of SC were evaluated, and the level of success was analyzed.

METHODS

Study design

This study included smokers treated for SC by medical staff at an SC clinic of a tertiary cancer hospital (Hunan Cancer Hospital) in Hunan Province, China from February 2015 to February 2019. The study followed the CONSORT reporting guideline.

Participant recruitment

Participants were referred by doctors, recruited in the community or voluntarily visited the SC clinic from February 2015 to February 2019. The inclusion criteria were: age ≥15 years; smoked ≥1 cigarette/day for more than half a year; willing to QS; and able to be contacted by phone. Smokers with life-threatening or serious diseases, cancer, cognitive dysfunction, or incomplete information were excluded from the study.

Sample size

In this study, the formula of sample size, required by the overall rate to determine the target sample size, was:

$$\text{n}=\frac{u_{a/2}^2\pi (1-\pi )}{{\delta }^2}$$

According to a previous study¹² based on behavioral support in Hong Kong, China, the rate of patients who QS for six months was 15.3%, α = 0.05, u_α/2 = 1.96, δ = 0.05, and the sample size was then calculated to be at least 199. Taking into account a dropout rate of 20%, the estimated sample needed to be at least 239 cases.

Data collection and evaluation indexes

Baseline data were collected at the patients’ initial visit using the SC clinic questionnaire based on the guidelines for SC clinic practices¹³. The questionnaire items are based on sociodemographic data (including sex, age, education level, and occupation). The patients’ health status was reported by the patients as good, fair, or poor. Each patient’s daily smoking volume, years of smoking, attempts to quit, use of SC products, and start date for SC, were recorded.

Using multiple choice questions, the reasons and motivations to QS were evaluated. For example, patients were asked ‘What is the reason for your decision to QS this time?, with responses: 1) knowing the hazards of smoking, 2) the family members required it, 3) decline in health, 4) knowing somebody sick due to smoking, 5) to avoid trouble in no-smoking places, 6) improve appearance, and 7) other. Patients were encouraged to participate in a CO concentration detector (Micro CO) test at their first assessment; with CO scores of 0–6 ppm indicating non-smoking, 7–10 ppm light smoking, 11–72 ppm heavy smoking, and >72 ppm CO poisoning¹³. The nicotine dependence of each patient was assessed using the FTND score, a six-question survey with a score of 0 indicating no dependence, 1–3 low dependence, 4–6 moderate dependence, and 7–10 high dependence¹⁴.

Smoking cessation interventions

Behavioral support was provided via 20 to 30 minutes of face-to-face SC counseling conducted by the medical staff at the first visit. The ‘5As’ and ‘5Rs’ methods proposed by Prochaska and Goldstein in 1991 were used¹⁵.

After the first visit, four standardized telephone interventions were conducted by medical personnel at 1 week, and at 1, 3 and 6 months after the patient’s visit at the SC clinic¹³. The healthcare providers answered the patients’ questions, provided psychological support and help, and urged patients to remain quit. Each telephone follow-up session lasted 15–20 minutes. A follow-up questionnaire including items regarding smoking status, QS status, withdrawal symptoms, and reasons for failure to QS was completed. Patients with an FTND score of ≥6 were recommended to receive SC medications. Patients who accepted this recommendation were prescribed SC medications at their own expense.

The primary outcome was the rate of continued SC at 1, 3, and 6 months. The duration of maintaining SC was calculated from the beginning of the first consultation to the assessment date, and those who could not attend the SC clinic were assessed by telephone interview, asking how many cigarettes were smoked in the past 1, 3 and 6 months, rather than asking whether they had quit smoking^13,16. Self-reported abstinence from the beginning of intervention to the evaluation time point was considered SC. Patients were considered lost to follow-up and considered QS failure if they provided a wrong phone number or did not answer the phone call after more than 7 attempts at different time points during the study period^16,17.

Statistical analysis

Data entry and analyses were performed using SPSS version 23.0 software (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). Demographic data, smoking characteristics, SC and follow-up are described in terms of frequency and percentage. A univariate analysis of SC at 6 months was conducted using the chi-squared test. In the row by column chi-squared test, when the number of cells with theoretical frequency (T) T<1 or 1≤T<5 exceeded 20% of the total number, the Monte Carlo direct calculation probability method was used to calculate the p-value. In the fourfold table chi-squared test, when n≥40 and 1≤T<5, the continuouscorrected chi-squared test was used. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed for factors with univariate analysis and statistical significance (α_in = 0.05 and α_out = 0.10), to screen the factors affecting the success of SC at 6 months. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were generated using a multivariable analysis. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.

RESULTS

Patient demographics

Of the 351 patients enrolled in the study, 7 were excluded due to incomplete data. The final analysis included 344 patients. Almost all of the patients were male (97.4%, 335/344), and the mean patient age was 45.63±12.34 years (range: 18–80). The most common occupations were enterprise/business/service personnel (39.0%) and farmers (24.4%). Half of the patients (50.6%, 174/344) were in good overall health, 42.7% (147/344) in fair health, and 6.7 % (23/344) in poor health.

Smoking behaviors

The average smoking duration was 22.87±12.29 years. Over three-quarters of the patients (77.9%) reported smoking for ≥10 years, and 21.5% reported smoking for ≥30 years. The average number of cigarettes smoked per day was 21.93±11.30 (range: 2–71). More than half of the patients (53.5%) reported smoking between 11–20 cigarettes per day, and 81.7% reported smoking >10 cigarettes per day. The average FTND score was 4.32±2.10, and 14.8% of patients were categorized as highly dependent while 49.4% as moderately dependent. Of the 174 patients who underwent CO detection, 63.2% (110/174) were heavy smokers and 15.5% (27/174) light smokers. Overall, 63.4% (218/344) of patients had previously attempted to QS (Table1).

Table 1.

Clinical characteristics of study participants according to the smoking cessation (CS) status at 6 months follow-up

Characteristics	Total n (%)	Unsuccessful quit n (%)	Successful quit n (%)	χ2	p
Total, n	344	235	109
Gender				1.432a	0.231
Male	335 (97.4)	231 (98.3)	104 (95.4)
Female	9 (2.6)	4 (1.7)	5 (4.6)
Age (years), mean ± SD	45.63 ± 12.34			7.202	0.027
<45	148 (43.0)	111 (47.2)	37 (33.9)
45–59	144 (41.9)	95 (40.4)	49 (45.0)
≥60	52 (15.1)	29 (12.4)	23 (21.1)
Education level				0.973	0.808
Primary school or less	29 (8.4)	22 (9.4)	7 (6.4)
Middle school	109 (31.7)	75 (31.9)	34 (31.2)
High school	141 (41.0)	95 (40.4)	46 (42.2)
College or above	65 (18.9)	43 (18.3)	22 (20.2)
Occupation				2.554	0.635
Government/institution staff	58 (16.9)	38 (16.2)	20 (18.3)
Enterprise/business/service personnel	134 (39.0)	94 (40.0)	40 (36.7)
Farmers	84 (24.4)	60 (25.5)	24 (22.1)
Retired/unemployed	33 (9.6)	19 (8.1)	14 (12.8)
Other	35 (10.1)	24 (10.2)	11 (10.1)
Health assessment				5.522	0.063
Well	174 (50.6)	125 (53.2)	49 (45.0)
Fair	147 (42.7)	99 (42.1)	48 (44.0)
Poor	23 (6.7)	11 (4.7)	12 (11.0)
Daily cigarette consumption, mean ± SD	21.93 ± 11.30			2.931	0.231
≤10	63 (18.3)	38 (16.2)	25 (22.9)
11–20	184 (53.5)	126 (53.6)	58 (53.2)
≥21	97 (28.2)	71 (30.2)	26 (23.9)
Smoking duration (years), mean ± SD	22.87 ± 12.29			1.246	0.742
≤10	76 (22.1)	52 (22.1)	24 (22.0)
11–20	98 (28.5)	71 (30.2)	27 (24.8)
21–30	96 (27.9)	63 (26.8)	33 (30.3)
≥31	74 (21.5)	49 (20.9)	25 (22.9)
Fagerström score, mean ± SD	4.32 ± 2.10			3.165	0.205
≤3	123 (35.8)	77 (32.8)	46 (42.2)
4–6	170 (49.4)	120 (51.1)	50 (45.9)
≥7	51 (14.8)	38 (16.1)	13 (11.9)
CO test results (ppm)				0.126	0.939
0–6	37 (21.3)	26 (21.5)	11 (20.8)
7–10	27 (15.5)	18 (14.9)	9 (17.0)
11–72	110 (63.2)	77 (63.6)	33 (62.2)
Previous SC attempts				6.905	0.009
Yes	218 (63.4)	138 (58.7)	80 (73.4)
No	126 (36.6)	97 (41.3)	29 (26.6)
Date of SC				15.112	0.004
Undecided	65 (18.9)	50 (21.3)	15 (13.8)
Immediately	97 (28.2)	56 (23.8)	41 (37.6)
Within 7 days	23 (6.7)	13 (5.5)	10 (9.2)
Within 30 days	103 (29.9)	69 (29.4)	34 (31.2)
Over 30 days	56 (16.3)	47 (20.0)	9 (8.2)
SC reasons and motivation (multiple selection)
Knowing the hazards of smoking	251 (73.0)	178 (75.7)	73 (67.0)	2.905	0.088
Decline in health	86 (25.0)	53 (22.6)	33 (30.3)	2.368	0.124
Family asks to quit	81 (23.5)	54 (23.0)	27 (24.8)	0.133	0.716
Knowing somebody sick due to smoking	53 (15.4)	41 (17.4)	12 (11.0)	2.368	0.124
Avoid smoking in non-smoking areas	19 (5.5)	14 (6.0)	5 (4.6)	0.268	0.605
Improve appearance	18 (5.2)	14 (6.0)	4 (3.7)	0.392a	0.531
Other	22 (6.4)	15 (6.4)	7 (6.4)	0.000	0.989
SC aids				-	0.358*
BS	331 (96.3)	228 (97.0)	103 (94.5)
BS and medication	7 (2.0)	3 (1.3)	4 (3.7)
BS and EC	6 (1.7)	4 (1.7)	2 (1.8)
Follow-ups				5.392a	0.020
≤2	24 (7.0)	22 (9.4)	2 (1.8)
3–4	320 (93.0)	213 (90.6)	107 (98.2)

^aContinuous correction value.

^*Monte Carlo. BS: behavioral support. EC: electronic cigarettes.

Reasons and motivations to QS

Awareness of the hazards of smoking (73.0%; 251/344) and a gradual decline in health caused by smoking (25.0%; 86/344) were the two most common reasons for quitting smoking provided by the patients. Other reasons given were: the family members requested it, knowing somebody sick due to smoking, avoiding smoking in no-smoking places, and improving appearance (Figure 1).

Figure 1.

The reasons given as a percentage of the 344 smokers who chose to quit

Ninety-seven patients (28.2%) chose to QS immediately, while 23 (6.7%) chose to QS within 7 days, 103 (29.9%) set a SC date within 30 days, 56 (16.3%) set a date after 30 days, and 65 (18.9%) did not set a SC date (Figure 2).

Figure 2.

The percentage distribution of the expected start time of smoking cessation between the successful and unsuccessful smoking cessation groups

Follow-up and SC rate

Participants were followed up 1–4 times. Of the 344 patients that were followed up, 16.3% QS at 1 week, 26.5% at 1 month, 27.6% at 3 months, and 31.7% at 6 months (Figure 3).

Figure 3.

Flowchart for follow-up and successful smoking cessation at each time point

Behavioral support was provided to 96.3% (331/344) of patients, and 93.0% (320/344) of patients received 3–4 follow-up visits by 6 months. In the SC success group, 98.2% (107/109) of participants received 3–4 follow-ups. For the SC failure group, this was 90.6% (213/235). Only 3.7% (13/344) of the total patients received medication or e-cigarettes in addition to behavioral support (Table 1).

Reasons for failure to QS

The main reasons for the patient’s failure to quit smoking were: withdrawal symptoms (50.9%), influence of smoking friends (25.0%), work pressure (11.4%), negative emotions such as tension and anxiety (7.0%), and no confidence to quit (3.1%).

Factors impacting SC success at six months

No significant differences in sex, education level, occupation, health assessment, daily smoking amount, smoking duration, FTND score, CO level, reasons and motivations for quitting smoking, or SC method, were found between the success group and the failure group. Patient age (p=0.027), previous attempts to QS (p=0.009), quit date (p=0.004), and the number of follow-up calls (p=0.020) were significantly different between the two groups (Table 1).

Independent predictors of SC success at six months

The patient’s SC status was used as the dependent variable, while age, previous SC attempts, quit date, and number of follow-ups were used as independent variables, and stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed.

The results showed that age, previous SC attempts, quit date, and number of follow-up calls were independent predictors of SC at six months. Patients aged ≥60 years were more likely to QS than those aged <45 years (OR=2.72; 95% CI: 1.343–5.512, p=0.005). Patients with previous SC attempts were more likely to quit than those who had not previously tried to quit (OR=2.02; 95% CI: 1.189–3.414, p=0.009). Patients who chose to quit immediately were more likely to be successful than those who were not ready to quit at their first visit (OR=2.26; 95% CI: 1.094–4.668, p=0.028). Patients who had three or four follow-up visits were more likely to QS than those with two or fewer follow-up visits (OR=5.35; 95% CI: 1.207–23.697 , p=0.027) (Table 2).

Table 2.

Duality logistic regression analysis of potential predictors for smoking cessation (SC) at 6 months follow-up

Variable	β	SE	Wald χ2	p	OR	95 % CI
Age (years)
<45 (Ref.)					1
45–59	0.494	0.271	3.319	0.069	1.639	0.963–2.791
≥60	1.001	0.360	7.724	0.005	2.721	1.343–5.512
Previous SC attempts
No (Ref.)					1
Yes	0.701	0.269	6.786	0.009	2.015	1.189–3.414
Date of SC
Undecided (Ref.)					1
Immediately	0.815	0.370	4.851	0.028	2.260	1.094–4.668
Within 7 days	0.859	0.539	2.539	0.111	2.360	0.821–6.788
Within 30 days	0.370	0.374	0.982	0.322	1.448	0.696–3.011
After 30 days	-0.521	0.482	1.168	0.280	0.594	0.231–1.528
Follow-ups
≤2 (Ref.)					1
3–4	1.667	0.760	4.873	0.027	5.348	1.207–23.697

DISCUSSION

This study confirmed the effectiveness of SC intervention in an SC clinic in mainland China, and the important role of telephone follow-up in increasing the SC rate. In the analysis of predictors of SC, age ≥60 years, previous SC attempts, immediate quit date, and telephone follow-up, were associated with SC success. The number of telephone follow-up calls is a significant factor affecting the success of SC; the more telephone follow-up sessions, the higher the possibility of QS.

The relationship between age and successful SC

Previously studies have suggested that age is an independent predictor of SC success¹⁸. In this study, patients aged ≥60 years were more likely to QS than patients aged <45 years. A cross-sectional secondary analysis of data from the India Global Tobacco Survey¹⁹ revealed that younger patients had a lower number of SC attempts and a lower SC rate compared to patients aged >50 years. Meanwhile, older patients who have smoked for a longer period of time are at higher risk for smoking-related diseases and are more likely to encounter health problems that motivate patients to QS²⁰.

Motivation to QS

Health concerns are the most common reason provided by patients who attempt to QS. An awareness of the health hazards of smoking and gradual decline in QS motivated patients in this study. Previous studies have suggested that patients with worsened health due to smoking have more motivation to quit²¹. The motivation to QS is an important factor in predicting SC attempts, success and continuity, and that a higher level of motivation to QS can predict short-term and long-term success²². Providing health hazard information to smokers could improve patients’ awareness of the health hazards of tobacco, increase their willingness to QS, and effectively reduces smoking rates²³. Therefore, medical personnel should focus on educating patients regarding the harmful effects of tobacco and improving the patients’ willingness and motivation to QS. The inclusion of more warning pictures and health information on tobacco should also be considered.

Previous attempts to QS

Patients who had previously attempted to QS were more likely to succeed than those trying for the first time. Previous attempts to QS were identified an independent predictor in this study, which is consistent with the results of previous studies in China and Europe^11,24. Chaiton et al.²⁵ reported that an average of 30 attempts to QS is associated with the success of QS at one year or longer. The amount of time spent trying to QS is also closely related to the success of QS, as several studies have reported that trying to QS for more than six months is associated with an increased probability of successful quitting compared to attempting to QS for less than six months^11,26.

Quitting date

The decision to QS immediately has been identified as an independent predictor of successful SC. In our study, patients who chose to quit immediately were twice as successful as those who were not prepared to quit. A previous study reported that patients in the preparation and action periods of quitting are more likely to QS than those who are considering quitting²⁷. Another study reported that patients who made personal decisions to QS immediately were more likely to quit than those who set a quit date in the future²⁸. Together, these results highlight the importance of encouraging patients to QS as soon as possible and to help them QS shortly after visiting SC clinics.

Frequency and intensity of counseling

The number of face-to-face counseling sessions and telephone counseling sessions are important indicators of SC success²⁹. In this study, patients who received three or four follow-up sessions were five times more likely to QS than those who received two or fewer sessions. The number of visits to an SC clinic is an important factor in determining SC success. A clinical trial conducted in Turkey reported that patients who were counseled three times or more had a higher rate of quitting smoking³⁰. Intensive telephone counseling by SC professionals significantly improves the success rate of SC. A comparative effectiveness test conducted by Sherman et al.³¹ found that patients who received seven telephone counseling sessions had a higher quitting rate than patients who received one or two counseling sessions. However, another study reported that in participants who were given five telephone follow-up visits, the SC rate was highest soon after the first counseling session and gradually decreased over time at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months³². Therefore, frequent, intense follow-up sessions are recommended to help patients QS. The duration and frequency of follow-up sessions can be adjusted based on an individual patient’s SC progress and its duration.

Effects of SC clinics

The SC rates improved gradually from the first week to the sixth month, and were higher than the reported SC rates of the first SC clinic in Guangzhou²⁷. In the two recent SC programs in Thailand, the participant cessation rate at 6 months ranged from 12.6– 25.62%^33,34. Healthcare workers at a primary care tuberculosis clinic in Tswane, South Africa, who gave participants a brief SC intervention, had a sustained SC rate of 21.5% at six months³⁵. Therefore, the effects SC clinics, even in developing countries areas, is reaffirmed.

Limitations

This study is not without limitations. Successful SC was self-reported via follow-up telephone calls without further confirmation using biochemical indicators. This may have resulted in inaccurate data. A small number of patients selected SC medications interventions, resulting in a lower use rate of SC medications, which may potentially have affected the estimates of efficacy.

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of patients quitting smoking increased gradually from one week to six months, and the more frequent follow-up telephone calls, the more likely patients were to quit. Older age, previous attempts to QS, and immediate quit dates were predictive factors for successful SC. Therefore, medical staff at outpatient SC clinics should attempt to increase patient motivation, encourage patients to set immediate quit dates, and conduct frequent follow-up visits to improve the SC rate.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The authors have completed and submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest and none was reported.

FUNDING

This research was funded by Hunan Provincial Bureau of Science and Technology (Grants: 2021ZK4069, 2021ZK4076, 2021ZK4078), Hunan Philosophy and Social Sciences Planning Fund (Grant: 20WTC08) and the Changsha Science and Technology Bureau in China (Grant: kq1901085).

ETHICAL APPROVAL AND INFORMED CONSENT

Ethical approval (Approval number: KYJJ 094; March 1, 2019) was obtained from the ethics committee of the Hunan Cancer Hospital in Hunan Province, China. This study was conducted according to the Declaration of Helsinki. All patients provided oral informed consent.

DATA AVAILABILITY

The data supporting this research are available from the authors on reasonable request.

AUTHORS’ CONTRIBUTIONS

Conceptualization JX, RZ, YZ and YL; methodology XC; software JX and RZ; validation, formal analysis, investigation, resources, all authors; data curation JC, LZ, RZ, LZ and XY; writing/original draft preparation JX; writing/review and editing RZ, YZ and YL; visualization, supervision WW, OC and YZ; project administration, funding acquisition, YL, OC and YZ. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

PROVENANCE AND PEER REVIEW

Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.