[A pre assessment for nursing intervention to support tobacco cessation in patients hospitalized for cardiac problems: a pilot study (So-Live)]

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a smoking cessation intervention provided after discharge from a specialized cardiac hospital.

Design: A randomized pilot study (N = 40); after discharge, the experimental group (EG) received 6 phone calls from a nurse specialized in tobacco cessation counselling.

Results: Patients in the EG showed improved scores on two aspects of illness representations (perceive their illness as chronic and reported less negative emotional representations). No significant difference in smoking cessation was observed at 6 months (p = 0.72).

Conclusion: The non-significant difference may be explained in part by the smoking characteristics within this sample exemplifying the more nicotine dependent "hard core" smokers who persist in their smoking habits despite the serious health consequences incurred by continued smoking. This population of smokers may require a more intensive, specialized intervention to achieve smoking cessation.