Background: Smoking cessation intervention is among the most vital elements of the prevention of tobacco smoking. Our study aimed to describe the clinical profile of patients attending our smoking cessation unit.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study from December 2009 to June 2012. The patients were recruited in the Tobacco cessation unit of Sahloul Hospital (Sousse, Tunisia). The data were collected from the consultants' records.
Results: A total of 279 patients attended. They were mostly men (92.8 %). The mean age was 41.7 ± 13.4 years. Among medical conditions, a history of cardiovascular and respiratory disease was the most frequent (31 %). Anxiety was present in 46.2 % of patients. More than half of the patients (51.2 %) were heavy smokers and 50.5 % were strongly nicotine dependent (Fagerström's score>7). Seventy percent were motivated to stop smoking and 53.8 % had tried to quit at least once.
Conclusion: The majority of our patients could be considered as heavy smokers. Therapeutic combinations and medical treatment are suggested to assist practitioners trying to help them.
Keywords: Depressive disorders; Dépendance tabagique; Sevrage tabagique; Smoking; Smoking cessation; Tabagisme; Tobacco dependence; Troubles dépressifs.
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