EC Dental Science

Background and Aim: Cigarette smoking is the cause of mortality in approximately five million people annually worldwide. The prevalence of tobacco consumption can be effectively reduced through an approach called tobacco cessation intervention. The present study was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of tobacco cessation strategies using three different interventions among smokers visiting a dental institute in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.

Materials and Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted among smokers aged 18 - 50 years using smoking forms of tobacco products at the Tobacco Cessation Cell in a dental institute in Bangalore. A questionnaire developed based on the National Tobacco Control Program, Government of India; the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; and the Fagerström questionnaire was used to collect information regarding demographics and tobacco use. Participants were randomly allocated into three intervention groups [Group 1: Motivational Interviewing (MI), Group 2: Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT; nicotine gum 4 mg), Group 3: MI + NRT (nicotine gum 4 mg)]. Exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) levels were recorded at baseline and at 6 consecutive follow-up visits over 3 months. Statistical analyses were performed using Kruskal-Wallis, Friedman, and Tukey’s HSD post hoc tests.

Results: The study included 105 smokers (n = 35 in each group). There was a significant reduction in CO levels from baseline to 3 months in all three groups (p < 0.001). At the end of 3 months, a significant reduction in CO levels was seen in group 3 (i.e. MI + NRT) compared to the other two groups (MI alone and NRT alone) (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: With the given data and observations of the present study and other recent studies, it may be concluded that the combination of two different successful cessation methods i.e. MI and NRT provides synergistic effects with intense and greater success rates than those seen with either cessation method alone.

 Keywords: Smoking; Smoking Cessation; Nicotine; Nicotine Replacement Products; Motivational Interviewing

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