A pilot randomized trial of a smoking cessation nursing intervention in cardiac patients after hospital discharge.

Background: One fifth of Canadians are smokers despite the availability of community-based smoking cessation programs. It was hypothesized that offering a post-discharge smoking cessation program to cardiac patients would decrease smoking rates at six months.

Method: This pilot randomized study explored the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of a smoking cessation intervention delivered by a smoking cessation nurse specialist (SCNS) to cardiac patients after hospital discharge.

Sample: Participants (N=40) were randomized to either a postdischarge telephone intervention delivered weekly for the first month and then monthly until the third month (experimental group [EG]), or referral to usual community care (control group [CG]).

Findings: The researchers confirmed the feasibility of recruitment and acceptability of the intervention, but dfficulty with follow-up. The intention-to-treat analysis showed similar smoking cessation rates in both groups at six months (25% EG versus 30% CG; p = 0.72).

Conclusion: An intensifed follow-up protocol, or a more intensive, comprehensive and multidisciplinary intervention might be required, given the characteristics of the smokers.