Postintervention effect of nicotine replacement therapy for smoking reduction: a randomized trial with a 5-year follow-up.

Full Abstract

We tested whether a reduction of cigarette consumption obtained after 6 months of nicotine replacement therapy was maintained 5 years after the end of this treatment. Heavy smokers (mean = 30 cigarettes per day) who had no intention of quitting smoking were randomly assigned to a 6-month treatment of nicotine (15-mg patch, 4-mg gum, and/or 10-mg inhaler, n = 265), placebo (n = 269), or no intervention (n = 389). Products were sent by mail, and education was limited to a booklet. Of 923 participants, 879 (95%) were followed after 6 months and 671 (73%) after 5 years. After 6 months, smoking reduction was larger for nicotine (-10.9 cigarettes per day) than for placebo (-8.7) and no treatment (-4.9, all P <or= 0.022). After 5 years, cigarette consumption (20 cigarettes per day, all P >or= 0.2) and smoking cessation rates (17% to 21%, all P > 0.2) were similar in all groups. In smokers, 5-year continuous abstinence was higher in those who had reduced their cigarette consumption by at least 50% between baseline and 6 months than in those who did not reduce (11.9% vs 5.6%; P = 0.011; odds ratio, 2.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-4.2). Thus, the initial effect of the treatment on smoking reduction was not maintained after 5 years. However, reducing cigarette consumption was associated with a higher chance of subsequently quitting smoking. Nicotine replacement therapy in unmotivated smokers had no deleterious effect on dependence levels and smoking behavior.

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Author information

Author/s: Etter, Jean-François (JF); Laszlo, Evelyne (E);

Affiliation: Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. Jean-Francois.Etter(-atsign-)imsp.unige.ch

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of clinical psychopharmacology (J Clin Psychopharmacol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Apr; vol 27 (issue 2) : pp 151-5

Dates: Created 2007/04/06; Completed 2007/07/30;

PMID: 17414237, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Administration, Cutaneous
Adult
Chewing Gum
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Ganglionic Stimulants - administration & dosage; therapeutic use
Humans
Male
Nebulizers and Vaporizers

Nicotine - administration & dosage; therapeutic use
Questionnaires
Sex Factors
Smoking - prevention & control; psychology
Smoking Cessation - methods; statistics & numerical data
Switzerland
Time Factors
Treatment Outcome
Weight Gain - drug effects

Associated Chemicals: Chewing Gum (0) ; Ganglionic Stimulants (0) ; Nicotine (54-11-5)

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