The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: Background: As in 2002, 7430 new cases of lung cancer were diagnosed in Romania, and 7043 of them died! in a country where 44% of the adults were smokers, strong actions impose. .Smoking cessation departments are available only in Respiratory Diseases Clinics, in big cities. The unique option is bupropion.

Aim: To prevent increasing lung cancer rates among smokers. To provide smoking cessation for lung cancer patients, as quitting smoking is benefic to them in any stage of the disease.

Methods: Overview of 138 patients, all smokers, newly diagnosed with pulmonary neoplasm, in different stages, in the Pulmonary Diseases Department of Iasi, Romania.. Patients were interviewed according to a standard questionnaire as regards: smoking status, number of packs-year, nicotine dependency, attempts to quit, reasons for failure and ever received brief antismoking advice. .

Results: We found 108 men, 42.6% who smoked> 20 cigarettes/day. Nicotine addiction scores ranged between 7( 48.6%) and 11 ( 23.2%). 34 cases benefited surgery, 42 underwent radio and chemotherapy and the rest were beyond any terapeutical approach. All patients weren't ever counciled to quit smoking! 32% had previously tried to quit but failed once or more. We provided brief advice to all patients. Intensive counciling was necessary to 50%. 14 patients underwent a complete cure of bupropion In follow-up, 20.3% refused to quit (7 in terminal condition), 31% succeeded 3 months abstinence and 11%, 6 month abstinence.

Conclusions: Smoking cessation advice impose to be provided to all smokers by all categories of health professionals related to lung cancer diagnosis.