HEALTH SERVICE RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS
Please note: All posters will be displayed in Salons 10-12.

THURSDAY, 5:30-6:15 PM


Sood A, Ebbert JO, Sood R, Stevens SR, Bauer BA.

Use of complementary medicine for smoking cessation: a survey.

Mayo Clinic sood.amit@mayo.edu

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking is the single most important preventable cause of morbidity, mortality and excess health care costs in the U.S. Currently, limited information is available about the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments for smoking cessation.

OBJECTIVE: To assess previous or current use of CAM treatments for smoking cessation.

METHODS: A self-administered anonymous survey was carried out involving 1171 consecutive patients seen at the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center between November 2003 and July 2005. Patient's use of CAM treatments for smoking cessation was ascertained. Results were analyzed using the Chi-square test (SAS statistical software).

RESULTS: Survey response rate was 100%, with 572 women and 599 men participating in the survey. Use of CAM for smoking cessation was reported by 34% of all the participants. Women were more likely to use CAM for smoking cessation, with 40.9% women compared to 27.9% men (P < 0.001) reporting such use. Two out of three smokers showed interest in future use of CAM for smoking abstinence.

CONCLUSIONS:
1. One in three smokers reported use of CAM treatments for smoking cessation.
2. Women were more likely to use CAM treatments for smoking cessation compared to men.
3. The participants' high level of interest in CAM underscores the need to conduct further research in this field.

 

Back