The Effectiveness of a Smoking Cessation Initiative Among Employees in a Textile Factory

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a smoking cessation initiative for workers who are smokers in a textile factory located in Denizli, Turkey.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort was conducted by using the occupational health and safety unit records of 821 workers who are smokers. All participants underwent cognitive behavioral therapy, and in case of need, a suitable pharmacological treatment was initiated. The status of smoking cessation was checked at the end of the third month with a carbon monoxide breath monitor. A chi-square test was performed to make comparisons between categorical variables. Logistic regression analysis (backward) was used to evaluate the factors related to the smoking cessation status.

RESULTS: The ratio of participants who gave up smoking was 74.3%, and 63% of them used a pharmaceutical aid to quit smoking. Working in the department of finishing and using a pharmaceutical aid to quit smoking were related to increased success in smoking cessation.

CONCLUSION: Outcomes of our study emphasize that workplace-based smoking cessation programs may create a huge impact on smoking cessation among workers. Pharmacological aid and cognitive behavioral therapy have been associated with success in quitting smoking.

Cite this article as: Ergin A, Balcı S, Özdemir C, et al. The effectiveness of a smoking cessation initiative among employees in a textile factory. Turk Thorac J. 2021; 22(6): 446-449.