Smoking cessation through comprehensive critical care

Abstract

There has been little research on smoking cessation after critical illness. Smokers make up a high percentage of patients admitted to intensive care (ICU) and stopping smoking is one message that should be clearly given to recovering patients. The recovery period provides an important opportunity for patients to quit smoking as the period of sedation and ventilation allows patients to start nicotine withdrawal. Smoking cessation advice was included in a 6-week self-help ICU rehabilitation package comprising information and an exercise programme. Recovering ICU patients were randomised to receive either the routine follow-up of ward visits and ICU clinic appointments or routine follow-up plus the ICU rehabilitation package. Twenty out of thirty-one intervention patients and 16/30 control patients were smokers pre-ICU admission. At the 6-month follow-up, previous smokers given the rehabilitation package had a relative risk reduction for smoking of 89% (CI 98%-36%). Smoking cessation after critical illness is aided by the provision of a rehabilitation programme.