Smokers Achieve Best Quit Smoking Success Rate with Napa Valley Smoke-Free Life Program, According to Recent Research Study
St. Helena, CA (PRWEB) November 18, 2013 -- Smokers who participated in the St. Helena Center for a Smoke-Free Life residential stop-smoking program in Napa Valley have a 57% success rate after one year. Results of the Smoke-Free Life program research study, conducted by John E. Hodgkin, M.D., medical director of the program, and colleagues, were published in the September 2013 issue of the prestigious Mayo Clinic Proceedings journal (1), a publication of the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. The latest edition of Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence, Clinical Practice Guideline, published in 2008, reported success rates of 12.7% to 36.5% (see Table) for various strategies and medications (2). A recent study reported a 6 month success rate of 21.1% with the use of an e-cigarette (3). With no treatment (4), i.e. no medication or counseling, 95 to 97% of those trying to stop smoking relapse within one year!
Since 1969, the St. Helena Center for a Smoke-Free Life program has helped thousands of individuals. The program offers comprehensive individualized, intensive tobacco dependence treatment. The use of medications to suppress nicotine withdrawal symptoms is tailored to each individual. Participants in the program receive information on nutrition, stress management, sleep habits, spirituality and exercise with the intent to create a supportive environment when they complete the residential program and return home.
“The proper use of medications can greatly increase success rates,” stated Dr. John E. Hodgkin. “In addition, the tobacco-free environment our residential program provides, along with behavioral counseling, education and support, allows individuals to focus on their success. A residential smoking cessation program should be considered for those who have been unsuccessful in achieving tobacco abstinence despite serious attempts at quitting.”
Of the participants using the nicotine patch, 75.8% used more than the standard beginning nicotine patch dose of one 21mg. patch per day. The subgroup of those who used a combination of nicotine patch, bupropion, and short-acting nicotine medication achieved a non-smoking outcome at 12 months of 63.9%.
The study was the latest published by Dr. John E. Hodgkin. He has published over 200 journal articles and book chapters and is the lead editor of the foremost clinical textbook, Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Guidelines to Success (fourth edition, Mosby, 2009). Dr. Hodgkin received the Outstanding Clinician of the Year Award from the California Thoracic Society in 2007 and Physician of the Year Adventist Health Award in 2012.
For more information on the St. Helena Center for a Smoke-Free Life program, please call 800.358.9195 or visit http://www.sthelenacenterforhealth.org.
Table: Stop Smoking Success Rates*
St. Helena Smoke-Free Life Program (1) - 57.0%
One nicotine patch (> 14 weeks) + short-acting nicotine² - 36.5%
Varenidine (2) - 33.2%
One nicotine patch + Bupropion (2) - 28.9%
One nicotine product (usual dose) (2) - 19.0-26.7%
Bupropion (2) - 24.2%
Medication + Counseling (2) - 22.1%
E-cigarettes (3) - 21.1%
Counseling with no medications - 14.6%
Telephone quitline (2) - 12.7%
No help (2) - 3-5%
*All success rates listed are based on 7-day point prevalence (“no smoking, not one puff” in the previous 7 days) at six months, except for the St. Helena Smoke-Free Life Program which is at one year.
References:
1. Hodgkin JE, Sachs DPL, Swan GE, Jack LM, Titus BL, Waldron SJS, Sachs BL, Brigham J.
Outcomes from a patient-centered residential treatment plan for tobacco dependence.
Mayo Clin Proc 2013; 88: 970-976.
2. Fiore MC, Jaén CR, Baker TB, et al.
Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update.
Clinical Practice Guideline. Rockville, MD:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Public Health Service. May 2008.
3. Bullen C, Howe C, Laugesen M, et al.
Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation: a randomized controlled trial.
Lancet 2013; published online Sept 7
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61842-5.
4. Hughes JR, Keely J, Naud S.
Shape of the relapse curve and long-term abstinence among untreated smokers.
Addiction 2004; 99: 29-38.
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St. Helena Hospital is part of Adventist Health, a faith-based, not-for-profit integrated health care delivery system serving communities in California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington. Our workforce of 28,900 includes more than 21,200 employees; 4,500 medical staff physicians; and 3,200 volunteers. Founded on Seventh-day Adventist health values, Adventist Health provides compassionate care in 19 hospitals, more than 170 clinics (hospital-based, rural health and physician clinics), 14 home care agencies, six hospice agencies and four joint-venture retirement centers. We invite you to visit http://www.sthelenahospitals.org for more information.
Linda Williams, St. Helena Hospital, http://www.sthelenacenterforhealth.org, +1 415-533-6883, [email protected]
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