Inpatient smoking cessation therapy: truth or dare?

Background: This study aims to answer the question to which extent even very heavy nicotine-dependent smokers can benefit from a 3-week inpatient smoking cessation program. A particular focus lies on analyzing the positive effects, which go above and beyond normally anticipated health benefits.

Methods: This is a descriptive study observing 270 patients over a 1-year period consisting of recruitment, therapy, and two post-therapy follow-up visits at 6-month interval.

Evaluation of the sustainability of the Public Health Program "Slim without Diet (Schlank ohne Diät)".

Background: The prevalence of obesity and associated illnesses is continuously rising in industrialized countries. As a preventive measure, the Lower Austria Health Insurance Fund, together with the Institute of Social Medicine of the Medical University Vienna has launched the weight reduction program "Slim without Diet (SWD)". The Program's aim is to change the participants' eating and exercise habits.