[Factors associated with abstinence in a smoking cessation program].

Background: Smoking cessation programs have an efficacy of approximately 30%. Different factors related to the patients may influence this figure.

Aim: To identify determinant factors for smoking cessation after one year of treatment and to determine if bupropion and nicotine substitutes are effective in smoking cessation treatments.

Material And Methods: Follow up of 68 patients that attended a smokers clinic at a General Hospital. The patients filled up a questionnaire which included demographic, morbid and smoking habits data. They were subjected to a psychiatric interview to determine their treatment. One year later, patients were contacted by telephone and were asked if they remained without smoking.

Results: After one year, 41% of patients responded that they were abstinent. On univariate analysis, male gender appeared as a protective factor associated to abstinence. On multivariate analysis, the use of bupropion appeared as a protective factor. A high score on the automatic item of the smoking motivation questionnaire appeared as a risk factor. The presence of respiratory diseases and the male gender were borderline significant protective factors. Nicotine substitutes were not associated with better abstinence rates.

Conclusions: In this sample of smokers, the use of bupropion was associated with better abstinence rates and a high motivation to smoke appeared as a risk factor to continue smoking.