Auditing the prevalence and effects of smoking to lead a successful smoking cessation campaign

Background: Smoking is the largest single preventable cause of death and disability worldwide. Cultural barriers, lack of smoking cessation training, and patients' complaints are among the reasons why health professionals avoid asking about or advising against smoking. Aim: The aim of the audit was to assess the prevalence and effects of smoking to lead a successful smoking cessation campaign. Materials and Methods: The project was divided into two phases. The first phase was the audit and the second phase was the smoking cessation campaign. Results: A 6-week audit at the Medical Protocol Department at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, showed that (1) there is a trend of increasing use of hookah among females; (2) A large percentage of smokers have dyslipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes; (3) There is a strong association between smoking (both cigarettes and hookah) and obesity. During the smoking cessation campaign week, 54 patients were enrolled onto the smoking cessation program. Four weeks following the patient's chosen quit date, 12 patients (22%) had successfully quit completely. A total of 21 patients reported that they have significantly cut down, 11 patients had not quit yet and the remaining 10 patients were not contactable. Conclusions: Smoking cessation campaigns and programs are successful at helping people quit smoking. They are by far one of the most cost-effective life-preserving clinical services and should be integrated into routine clinical care. Treating physicians need to specifically ask about smoking status and promptly refer patients to smoking cessation clinics.