Our smoking cessation clinic has been consulting since October last year.  Since then, we’ve recruited 25 clients: 15 females and 10 males.  The outcomes for these clients make interesting reading.

Demographics

Median age: 47.45 years

Referral source

• Staff clinic : 1
• Self: 16
• GP: 4
• OPD: 2
• Other: 2

Statistics

• Average age commenced smoking: 15.4 yrs
• Average years smoked: 34.4 yrs
• Average per day: 30.6 cigarettes
• Average initial Carbon Monoxide level: 22.88 ppm
• Average Fagerstrom nicotine dependence level (FTND): 7.55 (high level of dependence)
• Average motivation to quit: 8.65/10
• Average confidence levels: 6.1/10
• Strong family history (genetic link) of smokers: 100% positive
• Average previous quit attempts: 8.05

Treatment options chosen

• Champix :16
• Zyban: 5
• NRT: 4

Smoking cessation

• Number of clients successfully completed program: 7
• Number of clients smoke free for 3 months: 7 (100%) These clients not only wanted to quit, but were ready to quit.
• Number of clients reduced smoking and working towards being smoke free: 11
• Number of clients withdrawn from program: 7

Reasons given

• 1 unknown
• 1 nausea with champix and antiemetic
• 2 decided they wanted to keep smoking
• 1 nightmares with NRT, refused other options
• 1 refused to wait for a script to be written

Case studies

AF, a 37 yo male, lives with wife, two adult children.

• Self referred commenced smoking at aged 14.
• Smoking 50-70 tailor made cigarettes per day
• FTND 10/10
• PM HX: gastric ulcer, hypertension, anxiety, c4-5 and 6-7 spinal fusion one month ago. Had not smoked since surgery, rang desperate to join clinic stating he was on the brink of relapse.
• Medications : Oxycontin 60 mgs BD , Panadiene Forte 4-8 daily
• Stated confidence level = 0/10 motivation level = 0/10 “quitting to make wife happy and for financial reasons.”
• Commenced on Zyban, and was still craving cigarettes we added one 21 mgs patch daily to rx.
• We also worked on his smoking cues and rituals. As an added incentive he is saving the money he would have spent on cigarettes and buying him self a new fishing rod, and has been going fishing once a week as a reward.
• Has now been smoke free for 15 weeks.

LD, a 59 yo lady, lives alone, adult children

• GP referral
• Commenced smoking  aged 13
• Smoking 75 chop -chop cigarettes
• FTND 9/10
• PM HX: hypertension, Type 2 IDDM, increased cholesterol, arthritis
• Medications: Diaformin, Zestral, Aeropax, Lipator, Mobic, Asprin
• Confidence level =9.5/10, motivation =9/10, quitting for health and family reasons
• Commenced Champix, and on day 10 became smoke free. She has been smoke free for 4 days.
• We worked on her smoking cues and rituals, and identified her likely saboteurs. We also looked at ways to fill her time, and financial rewards of quitting. LD had decided to treat her self to a manicure.
• She has been successfully smoke free for 3 months.

Should your patient be ready to quit, please refer to the smoking cessation clinic via the referral form on the BDDGP forms page (under Hospitals).

GP Scripts

Please be advised that due to staffing changes in the Smoking Cessation Clinic, clients who choose either Champix or Zyban to aide them with their quit attempt will need to be seen by their General Practitioner to obtain these scripts. This is an interim measure.

For more information call me on 5320 4332.

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