Abstract

Objective

Tobacco consumption is a well-known cause of morbidity and mortality. Therefore, smoking cessation is a fundamental primary and secondary disease protection objective. This study aimed to implement a smoking cessation program for first- and second-degree relatives of inpatients hospitalized for smoking-related diseases.

Methods: We planned to evaluate the effects of targeting relatives of hospitalized patients on the contemplation of smoking cessation. Participants who have a hospitalized relative in any of the Hacettepe University Hospital Internal Medicine, Oncology, or Cardiology clinics between February and April 2016 for a smoking-related disease were included in the study. The smoking status of the participants has been recorded and smokers were included in the cohort.

Results: During the study period, 761 persons were interviewed in the clinics and it was found that 337 patient-relatives (44.2%) were smokers. A total of 332 participants who obtained inclusion criteria were informed about the smoking cessation program. A total of 159 individuals (47.9%) were approved to be referred to smoking cessation clinic. The mean age of participants who agreed to be included in the smoking cessation program was significantly lower than those who refused (41.8 ± 11.1 vs. 45.1 ± 13.8, P = .01). The education level of the participants who agreed to be included in the smoking cessation program was significantly higher than those who refused (P = .009). Relatives of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients agreed to apply to the smoking cessation clinics more than any other disease group (P = .006).

Conclusion: According to the results of this study, patient relatives can be considered as an important target group in smoking cessation programs.

Cite this article as: Aktaş BY, Hüseyin B, Yüce D, et al. Smoker relatives of inpatients: A reasonable but heterogeneous target population for smoking cessation program. Arch Basic Clin Res., 2023;5(1):178-184.