Revista Brasileira de Terapias Cognitivas
Print version ISSN 1808-5687On-line version ISSN 1982-3746
Abstract
LOPES, Fernanda Machado and SILVEIRA, Kallinca Merillen. Effect of cognitive-behavioral techniques for quitting smoking. Rev. bras.ter. cogn. [online]. 2020, vol.16, n.1, pp.59-66. ISSN 1808-5687. https://doi.org/10.5935/1808-5687.20200009.
Nicotine is a psychoactive substance with a powerful addition capacity, making smoking a serious public health problem. The cognitive-behavioral approach has shown efficacy in the treatment of smokers and it is important to verify which strategies work best. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cognitive-behavioral strategies and techniques on tobacco abstinence. We used The Smoking Cessation Program which is grounded on the Governmental Department of Health in addition to six cognitive-behavioral strategies/techniques. As instruments, a Smokerlyser was used, as well as Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence and a brief interview before, immediately after and six months after treatment. From those 37 participants who completed the program, 70% quit smoking and 19% reduced consumption. We reached 89% success rate, which remained at 82% after six months. Statistical analysis (ANOVA) showed a significant reduction and maintenance of the reduction in all measures after treatment. The techniques related after one and six months were: relaxation (71%, 36%), coping cards (54%, 64%), distraction (50%, 54%), psychoeducation (40%, 57%), activities (18%, 29%) and homework (18%, 7%). In conclusion, all the techniques were considered effective and we suggest that they might be tested in the Smoking Cessation Program within the public health community.
Keywords : Smoking cessation; Techniques; Cognitive Therapy.