Randomized Clinical Trial About the Effectiveness of the Spirometry Test as a Motivational Tool for Quitting Tobacco in Primary Care

According to data from the last INE health survey carried out in 2006, 31.4% of males and 22.3 % of females smoked, in other words more than 26% of the population were smokers. In the Region of Murcia, according to the same Health Survey, the data are even higher than those of Spain, with figures for male smokers at 36.25% and 23.31% for women, with an overall prevalence rate of nearly 30%.

In light of these data, it is necessary to carry out intervention to help tobacco cessation and in this regard,the 98% of smokers trying to quit on their own without any specific support do not achieve their goal.

Interventions at Primary Care Consultations we have two useful tools at our disposal: One of these is brief advice It should be firm, understandable, individualized, verbal and direct. It should last between 3 and 5 minutes and be eminently positive, highlighting the advantages of becoming an ex-smoker. This intervention vs non intervention have an OR=1.69 (IC 95%1.45-1.98). The other intervention we have in an intensive. This includes providing systematic anti-tobacco advice accompanied by written documentation and psychological support as well as the follow-up of patients in their dishabituation process, with a periodicity which varies according to different studies, although to do this more time will have to be dedicated in the consultation.

As more intense intervention on these patients as efficacy obtained is higher, increasing abstinence rates significantly.

Appropriate interventions based on stage of change are based on the transtheoretical model of Prochaska and DiClemente. Smokers are at one stage or another in terms of lesser or greater degree of motivation to quit being closely related to the phases of abandonment of tobacco.