[Smoking cessation services during "Mois sans tabac": Smokers' profile and effectiveness]

Abstract

Introduction: In November 2016, France implemented "Mois sans tabac", with the objective of promoting smoking cessation in November for at least one month. This study consisted of: (1) the description of the characteristics of smokers registered in the French cessation database during November 2014-2015 compared to November 2016-2017; (2) the comparison of abstinence factors between the two periods.

Methods: We used data from CDTnet with 4659 registered adults' smokers who came for a first visit in November from 2014 to 2017 and were followed up at least one month. Our endpoint was 1 month-validated abstinence among the 1943 smokers followed up. We performed descriptive analyses of smokers, and predictors of abstinence were determined using a logistic regression model.

Results: A 6.9% significant increase of first visits was observed during "Mois sans tabac" versus before Mois sans tabac (P<0.001). Furthermore, more women (56.3% vs. 52.2%) as well as more light smokers (28.7% vs. 23.7%) sought help between these two periods. Finally, in 2016-2017, more smokers consulted by personal initiative than were hospital-referred (45.8% vs. 36.3%) in comparison with 2014-2015. Nevertheless, there was no significant difference of cessation rate between the 2014-2015 group (44.6%) and the 2016-2017 group (45.6%). In multivariate logistic regression, being a light smoker was the only factor that increased the chances of abstinence in 2016-2017 compared to 2014-2015 (OR: 1.68 [1.03-2.75]).

Conclusion: It seems important to refer smokers to cessation services during Mois sans tabac to reach high rates of abstinence.

Keywords: Consultation de tabacologie; Dépendance tabagique; Mois sans tabac; Nicotine dependence; Sevrage tabagique; Smoking cessation services; Stoptober.