Acute respiratory disease as a fulcrum point to quit smoking: Evaluation of an ED-based intervention

Aim: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a structured smoking cessation intervention and its relationship with nicotine dependence in smokers presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute respiratory infections (ARI).Materials and Methods: A single-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted.Participants (adults with ARI) were randomized to a control group (standard medical care) and an intervention group (standard care + structured smoking cessation counseling).Nicotine dependence was measured by the Fagerstrm Test of Nicotine Dependence (FTND).Smoking cessation rates were analyzed after one week and one month.Results: The mean age of the 288 participants was 45 years ( 19.09 SD), and 72.6% (n = 209) were male.The smoking cessation rate was 45.7% (n = 21) in the intervention group and 7.3% in the control group (at one-month follow-up, p < 0.001).While high FTND scores negatively affected smoking cessation rates (p < 0.001), cessation rates were significantly higher in individuals with low FTND scores in comparison to those with high scores.21.2% (n = 61)of the participants stated that they decided to quit smoking on the same day.Discussion: Structured smoking cessation interventions may prove effective in increasing smoking cessation rates in these adult patients with ARI in the emergency setting.However, more comprehensive support programs are needed for individuals with high addiction levels.