Differences in longer-term smoking abstinence after treatment by specialist or nonspecialist advisors: Secondary analysis of data from a relapse prevention trial

Abstract

Introduction: Smokers receiving support in specialist centers tend to have a higher short-term quitrate, compared with those receiving support in other settings from professionals for whom smokingcessation is only a part of their work. We investigated the difference in longer-term abstinenceafter short-term smoking cessation treatment from specialist and nonspecialist smoking cessationservices.Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial of selfhelpbooklets for the prevention of smoking relapse. The trial included 1088 short-term quittersfrom specialist stop smoking clinics and 316 from nonspecialist cessation services (such asgeneral practice, pharmacies, and health trainer services). The difference in prolonged smokingabstinence from months 4 to 12 between specialist and nonspecialist services was compared.Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to investigate the associationbetween continuous smoking abstinence and the type of smoking cessation services, adjustedfor possible confounding factors (including demographic, socioeconomic, and smoking historyvariables).Results: The proportion of continuous abstinence from 4 to 12 months was higher in short-termquitters from specialist services compared with those from nonspecialist services (39% vs. 32%;P = .023). After adjusting for a range of participant characteristics and smoking variables, the specialistservice was significantly associated with a higher rate of longer-term smoking abstinence(odds ratio: 1.48, 95% CI = 1.09% to 2.00%; P = .011).Conclusions: People who receive support to stop smoking from a specialist appear to be at lowerrisk of relapse than those receiving support from a nonspecialist advisor.