Effectiveness Of A Smoking Cessation Program Combined With Transdermal Nicotine

• Main Author: Sonmez, Nurhak
• Other Authors: Gencoz, Faruk
• Format: Others
• Language: Eng
• Published: METU 2008
• Subjects: H General Social Sciences 1-99; Smoking cessation; Cognitive-behavioral; Transdermal nicotine patches; CO measurement.
• Online Access: http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12609428/index.pdf

The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral smoking cessation program combined with nicotine patches in a university student sample. Moreover, changes in self-efficacy judgments of both experimental and control group participants were examined. 37 students from various departments of Middle East Technical University participated in the study. Participants in the experimental group received a 6-week group based multicomponent smoking cessation program combined with nicotine patches, whereas those in the control group were provided with self-help booklets. Point prevalence abstinence was used as the main outcome measure, which was verified by CO-measurement in exhaled air both at post-treatment and follow-ups. Separate one-way ANOVAs and repeated measures ANOVAs were used in data analysis. Results showed that there were no significant differences between the experimental and control group in terms of their degree of motivation, readiness and decision to quit smoking, nicotine dependence, depression, self-efficacy, and perceived social support at pre-treatment. Results of the repeated measures ANOVA with CO-values showed that the CO-levels of experimental groups significantly declined from pre-treatment to post-treatment and to follow-ups. Abstinence rates for the experimental group were found to be 66.67%, 55.55% and 45.44% at post-treatment, 1-month follow-up and 2-months follow-up respectively. On the other hand, abstinence rates for the control group were found to be 11.76%, 5.88% and 5.88% at post-treatment, 1-month follow-up and 2-months follow-up respectively. Moreover, it was found that self-efficacy scores of experimental group participants significantly increased at post-treatment, whereas those of control group participants significantly decreased from pre-treatment to post-treatment. The findings were discussed in the light of the relevant literature. After discussing the limitations and implications of the study, directions for future studies were suggested.