A randomised controlled pilot study of standardised counselling and cost-free pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation among stroke and TIA patients

BACKGROUND: Tobacco use is a major risk factor for recurrent stroke. Very few studies have been performed to support smoking cessation among patients who have experienced a stroke or TIA. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility and obtain preliminary data on the effectiveness of providing cost-free quit smoking pharmacotherapy and counselling to smokers identified in a stroke prevention clinic. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. METHODS: All patients seen at the Ottawa Hospital Stroke Prevention Clinic were screened for smoking status, advised to quit smoking and treated using a standardized protocol including counselling and pharmacotherapy. Eligible smokers were randomly assigned to either a prescription only usual care group, or, the experimental group who received a 4-week supply of cost-free quit smoking medications and prescription for medication renewal. All patients received follow-up counselling 7-days prior to and 5, 14, 30, 60, 90, 180 days following t...背景：烟草使用是复发性中风的核心危险因素之一。目前针对中风或短暂性脑缺血发作（Transient Ischemic Attack, TIA）患者的戒烟支持相关研究较为匮乏。本试点研究旨在评估为中风预防诊所筛查出的吸烟者提供免费戒烟药物治疗与咨询服务的可行性，并获取该干预措施有效性的初步数据。 研究设计：随机对照试验。 研究方法：所有在渥太华医院中风预防诊所就诊的患者均接受吸烟状态筛查，被医师建议戒烟，并采用包含咨询与药物治疗的标准化方案开展干预。符合入组条件的吸烟者被随机分为两组：仅提供处方服务的常规护理组，以及可获得为期4周免费戒烟药物与续方处方的实验组。所有患者均在干预前7天及干预后第5、14、30、60、90、180天接受随访咨询，原文后续内容未完整呈现。