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HYPNOTHERAPY AS AN AID TO SMOKING CESSATION OF HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS: PRELIMINARY RESULTS

North Shore Medical Center, Salem, MA

PURPOSE: Smoking-related cardiopulmonary diseases account for a large number of hospital admissions. Hypnotherapy has been promoted as a method of smoking cessation, but reliability has not been confirmed. We investigated the efficacy of hypnotherapy as an a aid in improving quit rates of hospitalized smoking patients after discharge.

METHODS: All patients admitted with a cardiopulmonary diagnosis who smoked were screened. Subjects contemplating quitting were recruited into 4 groups: Control subjects who preferred to quit "cold turkey" (C), hypnotherapy alone (H), Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and both hypnotherapy and NRT (NRTH). Subjects were allowed to self select their group. All subjects received self-help brochures. Control subjects received brief counseling, but other groups received intensive counseling, free supply of NRT and/or a free hypnotherapy session within 7 days of discharge. These groups also had follow up telephone calls at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 26 weeks after discharge. Point prevalence rates for smoking were compared among the four groups at 26 weeks.

RESULTS: A total of 67 patients have completed the study representing 16 controls and 14, 19, 18 subjects in each of the H, NRT, and NRTH groups, respectively. Female patients were more likely to select hypnotherapy, while males preferred to quit "cold Turkey". At 26 weeks after discharge, 4/12 of control subjects (25.0%), 7/14 in H (50.0%), 3/19 in NRT (15.78%) and 9/18 in NRTH (50%.0) groups were nonsmokers. Patients admitted with a cardiac diagnosis were more like to quit at 26 weeks (45.5%) than patients admitted with a pulmonary diagnosis (15.63%).

CONCLUSION: Thus early data suggest that hypnotherapy after hospital discharge can be an effective mode of smoking cessation. It compared favorably with NRT alone. In all groups, modalities seem to be more effective for patients admitted with a cardiac than a pulmonary diagnosis.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Hypnotherapy could be an asset to a smoking cessation program after hospitalization. Patients admitted with respiratory disease who smoke, appear to be less motivated than their cardiac counterparts and may need a more intensive and sustained effort.

DISCLOSURE: Faysal Hasan, No Financial Disclosure Information; No Product/Research Disclosure Information