Effect of Multi-modal Interventions for Smoking Cessation in a University Setting: A Short Course of Varenicline, Financial Incentives, E-mail and Short Message Service / 가정의학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Varenicline is known to have higher effect for smoking cessation than existing pharmacotherapies, including Bupropion and Nicotine replacement therapy, however, it can also bring about adverse effects such as problems in compliance due to the complicated dosage, side effects of high frequency, and financial burden resulted from a long term treatment. Moreover, the effect for smoking cessation with group program and non-pharmacotherapy, including financial incentives, E-mails or SMS is well known, but, the study on their combination is rare. Therefore, in the present study, we tried to evaluate two things; the effect for smoking cessation with multi-modal intervention, and the compliance of Varenicline. METHODS: From July 2008 to February 2009, we conducted the multi-modal smoking cessation program for 30 volunteers in Dankook university. This program consisted short course of Varenicline, financial incentives, E-mail and short message service. RESULTS: The continuous abstinence rate for weeks 9 throught 12 was 76.7% and for weeks 9 through 24 was 43.3%. Multivariate analysis revealed that duration of Varenicline treatment was significant factor affecting 12-week continuous abstinence rate. The average duration of Varenicline treatment was 17.1 (+/-10.8) days and 54.0% took Varenicline as directed. The most common adverse events were nausea (40.0%) and insomnia (23.3%). CONCLUSION: Multi-modal intervention (short course of Varenicline, financial incentive, E-mail and short message service) was effective for smoking cessation with high continuous abstinence rates in a university. We suggest multi-modal intervention because compliance of Varenicline seems to be low in real setting.