Association of Satisfactory Smoking Cessation Support Services and Treatment Administered with Successful Quitting of Smoking in Korea

Abstract

Background:Smoking cessation clinic service is provided in public health center since 2005 in Korea, and it has been included in the National Health Insurance Service since 2015. This cross-sectional study investigated factors affecting satisfaction with the service and differences in satisfaction rates between smokers who were successful and unsuccessful in quitting smoking. Methods: A satisfaction survey was administered to 1,500 participants in 2016; of these, 1,418 answered all the satisfaction items. The success and failure of smoking cessation were defined as whether the individual had smoked during the week before taking the questionnaire. Chi-square test was used to evaluate differences in the respondents' satisfaction with the smoking cessation support services and with the treatment received from physicians. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with the satisfaction rate. Results: Of the 1,418 respondents, 644 successfully quit smoking and 774 failed to quit. The satisfaction rates for the support services and treatment were significantly higher in the success group. Multivariate analysis showed that successful smoking cessation was an independent factor that increased satisfaction with both the support services (odds ratio, 3.70; 95% confidence interval, 2.45-5.59) and treatment by the physician (odds ratio, 2.06; 95% confidence interval, 1.44-2.96). Conclusion: Successful smoking cessation was an independent factor related to satisfaction with the support service and treatment by the physician. Satisfaction rates differed with age, sex, and hypertension. To increase satisfaction rates, medical staff should provide targeted treatments considering each individual's characteristics.

Behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy for relapse prevention in abstinent smokers: a rapid review and meta-analysis for the Korea Preventive Service Task Force

“…However, studies on NRT or bupropion did not detect an effect on relapse prevention for abstainers. Varenicline is the most frequently prescribed medication for smoking cessation (87.9%) in the smoking cessation support services provided by the National Health Insurance Service [ 23 ]. This review provides evidence that pharmacological interventions, especially varenicline prescriptions, help abstinent smokers to continue their path of not smoking for over 6 months.…”