Authors

1Luis Antonio de Mendiolagoitia Cortina, 2José Luis Blanco

Abstract

Purpose: Using a group approach to help in smoking cessation is a needed and effective intervention, due to the current size of such a public health problem.
Material and methods: A descriptive study. The study was performed in 2011. Enterprises in Concejo de Mieres (city council, courts, local police, university campus at Mieres, Thyssen factory companies) were informed by the managers of the primary care district VII in Asturias about the study, so that workers wishing to quit smoking could participate in the program. ThissenKrupp factory was the only company interested in the workshops. Eleven ThissenKrupp factory workers were included in the program. Initially, face-to-face interviews were held to explain the participants the helping process and to collect baseline data on tobacco use, year of onset, number of packs/year, number of cigarettes/day, CO (carbon monoxide), and other details. Then, face-to-face workshops, each one driven by two teaching nurses, were conducted. Nine workshops were carried out; approximate duration of each one was two hours. This is a multi-component intervention, combining basically behavioral techniques and drug therapy. Such an intervention has been shown to be most efficient to help people to quit smoking.
Results: Group approach for helping people to quit smoking is efficient and cost-effective. In order to be useful, such help should have some specific features, both general and therapist- and group-specific. Also, some particular structure and components are needed. Eleven participants started the smoking cessation program; after a one-year non-smoking period, 4 of them (36.36%) considered themselves to be ex-smokers. Regarding the amount of tobacco use, mean number of packs-year was 22.09. According to Fagerström test, five participants had a low dependence and six showed a moderate dependence. Mean CO level was initially high: + 20 ppm (particles per million). Mean age at smoking onset was 17 years. Mean number of tobacco use years was 23.63. A high baseline use (19 cigarettes per day) was observed.
Conclusions: However, in spite of a high dependence level (Fagerström test), high CO levels, early age of onset, and a high baseline use, the proportion of ex-smokers after one year (between 20-40%) is similar to data reported by other studies. Furthermore, a group approach for help improves cost-effectiveness, with higher abstinence rates being achieved than with brief interventions and lower-cost individual therapies. 

Keywords:

smoking; group therapy; smoking cessation

Versión en Español

Título:

Ayuda para deshabituación tabáquica grupal en la factoría Thyssenkrupp Norte de Mieres