Aims: We addressed the understudied topic of cessation interventions for adult light smokers (≤10 cigarettes daily). We identified cessation aids offered in French cessation services and their impact on cessation outcomes at 1-month follow-up. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 36,594 smokers in cessation services nationwide. Smokers could be offered pharmacotherapy as well as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Bivariate methods and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used. Results: Light smokers were 1.23 times more likely to drop out than heavy smokers. 13.3% were abstinent at follow-up versus 14.5% for heavy smokers (p = 0.013). Light smokers were offered pharmacotherapy less often than heavy smokers. Yet, among light smokers, varenicline doubled the odds of abstinence as did nicotine patch. CBT improved abstinence only when combined with nicotine patch. Intervention outcomes differed according to various profiles: light smokers self-referred or with several previous quit attempts achieved better outcomes than those not interested in quitting or referred through hospitalization. Conclusion: Light smokers’ poor intervention outcomes might partly be explained by inadequate treatment plans in French cessation services. Our results reveal that pharmacotherapy is effective and that tailored CBT should be offered according to the variety of profiles among light smokers.

Keywords:
Light smokers, Smoking cessation intervention, Varenicline, Nicotine replacement therapy, Cognitive behavioral therapy
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© 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel
2010
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