Establishment and evaluation of a smoking cessation clinic in Hong Kong: a model for the future service provider

J Public Health (Oxf). 2004 Sep;26(3):239-44. doi: 10.1093/pubmed/fdh147.

Abstract

Background: In the West, the effectiveness of smoking cessation programmes is well established. Smoking cessation programmes in the East are rare. We evaluated a pilot smoking cessation health centre (SCHC) of the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health (COSH).

Methods: The clinic operated 3 days a week from 6 to 9 pm. Smokers were recruited mainly by low cost publicity. Trained counsellors provided individual counselling and a 1 week free supply of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). The programme was evaluated in terms of process, outcome and cost.

Results: During August 2000 to January 2002, 2212 calls were received through the clinic hotline and 1203 smokers attended the clinic. Eight hundred and forty-one were successfully followed up at 12 months. Based on intention-to-treat analysis, the 7 day point prevalence quit rate at 12 months (not smoking any cigarette during the past 7 days at the 12 month follow-up) was 27 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval, CI 25-30 per cent). The average cost per quitter was USD 339 (USD 440 including NRT cost for a 1 week free supply). Other benefits included training of healthcare workers and medical students, organization of seminars, health talks and self-help groups, and promotion of research and training.

Conclusion: This first evaluation of a clinic-based smoking cessation service in Asia showed that the service was acceptable to Chinese smokers. The quit rate in this pilot part-time clinic is comparable to those of full-time and better funded clinics in the West. A part-time smoking cessation clinic is a promising model for piloting smoking cessation services in the East.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Counseling / organization & administration
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Forecasting
  • Health Care Costs / statistics & numerical data
  • Hong Kong / epidemiology
  • Hospitals, Public
  • Humans
  • Life Style
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Organizational*
  • Needs Assessment
  • Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care
  • Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / organization & administration*
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / ethnology
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Pilot Projects
  • Prevalence
  • Program Development
  • Program Evaluation
  • Smoking / epidemiology
  • Smoking Cessation* / ethnology
  • Smoking Cessation* / methods
  • Smoking Cessation* / statistics & numerical data
  • Smoking Prevention
  • Urban Health Services / organization & administration