The Danish Smoking Cessation Database

Abstract

Background: The Danish Smoking Cessation Database (SCDB) was established in 2001 as the first national healthcare register within the field of health promotion. Aim of the database: The aim of the SCDB is to document and evaluate smoking cessation (SC) interventions to assess and improve their quality. The database was also designed to function as a basis for register-based research projects. Study population: The population includes smokers in Denmark who have been receiving a face-to-face SC intervention offered by an SC clinic affiliated with the SCDB. SC clinics can be any organisation, place or person working with a preventive aim. There are no age limits for registering a smoker in the database. Data collection: The SCDB contains prospectively collected baseline and outcome data on SC clinics, interventions, and individual smokers. Baseline data include socio-economic, demographic, and prognostic factors. The outcome data are smoking status at the end of the programme and after six months and satisfaction with the SC intervention. Validity: Approximately 80-90% of all SC clinics offering systematic face-to-face SC interventions are reporting data to the SCDB. The data completeness of the SCDB is very high, at 95-100%. Validation checks have been implemented to ensure high data quality. Conclusion: The SCDB is a well-established clinical database and a priceless tool for monitoring and improving SC interven- tions in Denmark to identify the best solution to helping smokers become smoke-free. The database is increasingly used in register-based research.