Effect of Teleconsultation Counseling on Smoking Cessation

Overview

This randomized controlled trial conducted at Dokuz Eylül University evaluated whether video teleconsultations are as effective as traditional face-to-face clinic visits for helping people quit smoking * Over a 6-month period, the study found that while overall quit rates were statistically similar between the two groups, patients receiving teleconsultation support experienced significantly fewer cigarette cravings and fewer relapses * Teleconsultation also solved a common problem in smoking cessation: patients missing their follow-up appointments due to travel or time constraints

Detailed Description Background \& Purpose of the Study Smoking is a leading cause of preventable diseases and death worldwide * While many smokers want to quit, they often face barriers to attending regular follow-up appointments at clinics, such as transportation issues, travel costs, child care, and lack of time * This study was designed to see if teleconsultation (video calling) could remove these barriers and provide an effective alternative to in-person visits for smoking cessation counseling Who Participated? The study included 65 volunteer adults, aged 18 to 55, who applied to a smoking cessation clinic * Participants were randomly divided into two groups: 32 people in the teleconsultation group and 33 people in the face-to-face (control) group How the Study Worked Both groups received the standard of care recommended by the Ministry of Health . Initial Visit: Every participant had their first visit in person. They underwent a physical exam, had their health history taken, and received a prescription for nicotine replacement therapy (15 mg or 25 mg nicotine patches) . Follow-Up Plan: After setting a "quit date," patients were followed up on day 10, and at months 1, 2, 3, and 6 . The Difference: The intervention group had all their follow-up counseling sessions via video teleconsultation, while the control group was asked to return to the clinic for face-to-face counseling .

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Eligibility

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Outcomes