Utilization of a telephone interactive voice-response tobacco cessation support service in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Telephone smoking cessation counselling is a very cost-effective means of reaching dependent smokers in a population. We investigated the frequency of contacts and the types of topics that people accessed after a national telephone helpline was set up in the Islamic Republic of Iran at the beginning of 2011. From a total of 23 979 calls received over a 24-month period, 26.5% of callers hung up without selecting any menus. The most frequently accessed menu was addresses of smoking cessation support services [23.9%], followed by methods of smoking cessation [14.0%], self-help materials for quitting smoking [11.8%] and nicotine dependence assessment [10.4%]. The average number of contacts decreased dramatically after the first month of the service but there was a significant increase in the 2 months preceding the feast of Ramadan. Religious messages provide a good opportunity to engage individuals in smoking cessation and may be useful in the planning of media campaigns

Dual addictions, parallel treatments: nicotine replacement therapy for patients receiving methadone treatment in the Islamic Republic of Iran

This parallel, randomized, open-ended clinical trial tested the impact of nicotine replacement pharmacotherapy during the course of methadone treatment among opiate abusers. A total of 424 men entered the study at 4 drug treatment centres in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. The intervention group received a 6-week regimen of nicotine replacement pharmacotherapy at no charge. After 6 months, 211 persons [99.5%] in the control group continued to smoke and 1 person [0.5%] had quit. In the intervention group, 117 [55.1%] persons smoked, 15 [7.1%] persons had quit and 80 [37.7%] had reduced by more than 50% the number of cigarettes they smoked at the start of the study [P < 0.0001]. The findings suggest that the use of nicotine replacement pharmacology in tandem with methadone maintenance treatment can lead to dramatically improved efficacy for treatment of dual addictions

Status and costs of smoking cessation in countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region

The aim of this cross-sectional observational study was to address the health care situation in regard to smoking cessation efforts and expenditure, and to provide a basis for future studies and for implementing tobacco control programmes throughout the Eastern Mediterranean Region of the World Health Organization. Information collected included methods and cost of services for tobacco cessation from all 16 participating countries. In 10 countries, cessation programmes were directed by primary physicians. In 13 countries, nicotine gum and in 14 countries nicotine patches were accessible in pharmacies. Bupropion was available at pharmacies [with a written prescription] in 6 countries and varenicline in 7 countries. However, the mean cost of each service was significantly higher than the price of a pack of cigarettes. In countries with support services for tobacco cessation, directors need to provide care at the society level that is considerably less costly and widely accessible

Which form of nicotine replacement therapy is more effective for quitting smoking? a study in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran

Nicotine replacement therapy can double the chance of success for smokers attempting to quit. This observational study aimed to compare quit rates of different formulations of nicotine replacement among clients referred to a smoking cessation clinic in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. Clients entering the study [n= 308] participated in 4 sessions of behavioural therapy, chose a type of nicotine replacement to use [patches, chewing gum, tablets or both patches and gum] and were followed up for 12 months. After 4 weeks of quitting, 88.2% [246/279] reported abstaining from smoking. Self-reported maintenance rates for quitting were 54.9% after 6 months and 36.2% after 12 months follow-up. A significant correlation was found between type of nicotine replacement and quit rate. Use of nicotine patches and chewing gum together had the highest quit rate [95.2%] after 4 weeks and at 12 months follow-up [62.5%]. Consuming 2 forms of nicotine replacement in therapy could result in enhanced rates of long-term quitting

Comparison of tobacco control policies in the Eastern Mediterranean countries based on tobacco control scale scores

This cross-sectional survey aimed to provide an overview of tobacco control strategies in the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region [EMR]. A questionnaire to collate data on implementation of 6 major policies was developed based on the previously published Tobacco Control Scale and using MPOWER measures of the WHO Tobacco Free Initiative and the Tobacco Atlas. Only 3 of the 21 countries scored higher than 50 out of 100: Islamic Republic of Iran [61], Jordan [55] and Egypt [51]. More than half of countries scored less than 26. Highest scores were achieved by Afghanistan in cigarette pricing, Oman in smoking bans in public places, Islamic Republic of Iran in budgeting, prohibition of advertisements and health warnings against smoking and Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia and Kuwait in tobacco cessation programmes. The low mean total score in EMR countries [29.7] compared with European countries [47.2] highlights the need for better future planning and policy-making for tobacco control in the Region

[Is smoke free legislation enforcing completely in Tehran 2009?]

Creating smoke-free public places is essential to protect non-smokers and it also motivates smokers to quit. Considering the smoking ban law in public places of Iran and weakly enforcement of this law, we decided to study the circumstances in Tehran. It was a cross-sectional study which has been done during 2009. Firstly, Tehran's geographic map was divided into 3 areas of north, center and south and secondly 10 spots in each area were selected randomly. By reaching to that addresses easy sampling was done and going straightly toward the right side to collect enough cases. The indicators including 'the existence of smoking ban signs, ashtrays and smoking areas and also the way of showing objecting against smoking' were questioned and observed. 458 restaurants and food courts were studied. In 60 places [13%] there were no smoking ban signs. In 140 places [30%] there were ash trays and in 54 places [12%] there were smoking areas. In 132 places [29%] the in-charge people had no objection against smoking in restaurants. All the cases were aware of smoking ban law in public places. More than 50% considered it as a useful law and 106 restaurants [23%] believed that the law enforcement would increase the number of customers. There was no statistically relationship between the place and working year of restaurants and law enforcement but it was shown a statistically relationship between smoking ban signs and showing objection against smoking and increasing the number of customers [p=0.000]. In spite of the fact that it has been a long time sine the law adaptation, but it has not been fully implemented, so it is necessary to reinforce the law

Prevalence of smoking among high-school students of Tehran in 2003

This study in 2003 determined the prevalence of smoking and its associated factors among high-school students in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. Out of 1095 students aged 14-18 years, 29% [31% boys, 26% girls] were occasional and 5% [6% boys and 2% girls] daily smokers. Among occasional smokers, 21% had family members who also smoked, whereas for students who had never tried smoking, no family members smoked. Of 316 occasional smokers, 12% lived with a single parent compared with only 5% of never smokers. Regression analysis showed that significant risk factors for daily smoking were: having a brother or sister who smokes [OR = 8.58] and having more than 1 family member who smokes [OR = 6.33]