Evaluation of a national tobacco dependence treatment program in Uruguay 2017

Abstract

Background Tobacco Control is State Policy in Uruguay since 2005, since that time more than 200.000 people quit smoking. In addition to population measures, was essential provide effective dependence treatment. The intervention of the National Fund of Resources (FNR) enabled accessible and affordable help. Since 2004, FNR has managed a network of Smoking Units (SU) free or with very low cost, currently are 105 working throughout the country. Until now have been included 33.308 patients. To evaluate program operation and outcomes we study patients admitted between April 2014 and March 2015. Methods Descriptive study and prospective follow-up of a randomized sample stratified by sex, health coverage, number of controls and use of medications. Results 1509 patients were studied. Sample 426 individuals, 336 were contacted (79%). Female 56.1%, mean age 47.6, from the capital city 45.3%, with coverage in the Public Health 47.8%. Mean age of onset 16.4 years, mean of consumption 20.3 cpd. 57.1% had fixed work and 25.4% had primary education. Performance indicators: 1509 patients with initial interview, 73.2% (1104) had follow-up, of which 59.3% (655) reached 3 visits. Average follow-up period 48.1 days (S.D 53.8). 76.4% of the patients (844) received pharmacological treatment. 40.0% of those who had follow-up achieve punctual abstinence (7 days). 30.4% of the patients in the sample were abstinent (7 days) at the follow-up at 15 months of admission. 24.9% and 19.8% achieved 6 and 12-month sustained smoking cessation, respectively. Regarding patients with 3 visits or more, punctual abstinence at 15 months was 38.2%, sustained abstinence for 6 months 32.5% and for 12 months 27.3%. Conclusions The operation of the program as a whole meets the standards required for a good quality of assistance and the outcomes obtained are comparable to those published by various programs with similar characteristics.

Keywords

• WCTOH