Abstract:
To evaluate the characteristics of smokers seeking treatment in public smoking cessation
program ’’STOP FUMAT”. We made a retrospective evaluation of data collected during the interview
for enrollment in the smoking cessation program. The participants completed questionnaires related to
smoking history, history of psychiatric disorders, depression, anxiety and history of comorbidities;
demographic variables (age, gender, ethnicity, education), body weight and measures of nicotine
dependence were made. Between January of 2009 and January of 2010, 527 smokers were evaluated
and received individual counseling. More than half of the subjects had high degree of nicotine level,
comorbidities, were female with a mean age of 50 years. Smokers seeking assistance for smoking
cessation were socially disadvantaged, presented a high degree of nicotine dependence and had
previously made smoking-cessation attempts without the benefit of a structured program. Smoking
control interventions should take into consideration the general characteristics of the smokers treated
via the public health care system.
