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Two-Year Outcomes From a Cessation of Smoking Intervention in Older Adults

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

Robert J. Tait ,
Gary K. Hulse ,
Anna Waterreus ,
Leon Flicker ,
Nicola T. Lautenschlager ,
Konrad Jamrozik  and
Osvaldo P. Almeida
Robert J. Tait*
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry & Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Australia. robert.tait@uwa.edu.au
Gary K. Hulse
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry & Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Australia.
Anna Waterreus
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry & Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Australia.
Leon Flicker
Affiliation:
School of Medicine and Pharmacology, UWA and Western Australian Centre for Health & Ageing, University of Western Australia, Australia.
Nicola T. Lautenschlager
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry & Clinical Neurosciences, UWA, Australia and Western Australian Centre for Health & Ageing, University of Western Australia, Australia.
Konrad Jamrozik
Affiliation:
School of Population Health and Clinical Practice, University of Adelaide, Australia.
Osvaldo P. Almeida
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry & Clinical Neurosciences, UWA, Australia and Western Australian Centre for Health & Ageing, University of Western Australia, Australia.
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr Robert J. Tait, School of Psychiatry & Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, QE II Medical Centre, Nedlands, WA. 6009.
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Abstract

This study evaluated a cessation of smoking program for older (≥ 65 years) smokers. We recruited 215 community-dwelling smokers who selected either an intervention (n = 165) (brief intervention, telephone support, access to nicotine replacement therapy [NRT]) or ongoing smoking (continuing smokers) (n = 50). Primary outcomes at 12 and 24 months were (a) total abstinence and (b) cessation for the previous 30+ days, all validated via expired carbon monoxide (ECO). We interviewed 183 (85%) participants at 12 months and 165 (77%) at 24 months. Total abstinence was reported by 29 (18%) and 21 (13%) of the intervention group and none of the continuing smokers at 12 and 24 months. At 12 months, a greater prevalence of 30+ day cessation was observed for the intervention (24.2%) than the continuing smokers (4.0%): by 24 months this difference was 23.6% versus 12.0%. Those totally abstinent for 24 months predominantly used NRT (81%). Of the 30+ day quitters at 24 months, 74% of the intervention group used NRT and 100% of the continuing smokers used ‘cold turkey’. Cessation programs can be successfully delivered to older smokers, with outcomes comparable to the general population. NRT is commonly used by successful quitters, but ‘cold turkey’ can also be successful.

Keywords

agedsmoking cessationbrief interventiontelephone supportnicotine replacement therapy
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Smoking Cessation , Volume 3 , Issue 2 , 01 December 2008 , pp. 101 - 109
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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