Feasibility of brief tobacco cessation advice for tuberculosis patients: a study from Sudan

Abstract

Setting: Twenty-four health care centres in Sudan.

Objective: To examine the feasibility of introducing a tobacco cessation intervention into tuberculosis (TB) treatment programmes.

Design: A feasibility study of a tobacco cessation intervention for new cases of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in men compared survey centres (controls) and tobacco cessation intervention centres. Feasibility was evaluated by examining 1) acceptance by health staff and 2) the impact of additional tasks on TB treatment outcomes. A secondary assessment looked at rate of stopping tobacco use among those enrolled in the intervention condition.

Results: Staff members did not differ in personal use of tobacco, in enforcing rules banning the use of tobacco at health centres or in rates of recruitment into the study. A total of 513 patients (44% of those eligible) were enrolled. Differences in TB treatment success were found between patients who were enrolled and those who were not: respectively 83% and 59% were cured or completed treatment. Of identified tobacco users undergoing the cessation intervention, 66% reported abstinence at the end of their TB treatment.

Conclusion: Although differences existed between patients enrolled or not enrolled, the intervention was demonstrated to be feasible to implement and effective for those enrolled within routine TB services.