Influence of individual characteristics and tobacco control policy on smoking cessation in patients in German somatic and psychosomatic rehabilitation

Aims: The goal of this study was to analyse the influence of individual characteristics and tobacco control policies on smoking status and tobacco consumption amongst patients in (psycho-) somatic rehabilitation centres. Methods: A multicentre field study with pre-post-follow up design was carried out in 19 German rehabilitation centres. Each trainer of the cessation programme answered a tobacco control policy questionnaire (N = 19). Data from 367 patients were assessed at admission and discharge; data from 262 patients were collected at telephone follow-up six months after intervention. Multilevel analyses (HLM) were applied to identify the predictive value of individual and tobacco control policy characteristics on smoking behaviour directly after the intervention and six months later. Findings: Enforcement of smoking restrictions was a significant positive predictor for cessation rate at discharge and reduction rate at follow-up. Significant individual predictors for quitting include education, motivation and self-efficacy. Reduction rates were influenced by individual characteristics like motivation, self-efficacy, tobacco dependence and smoking rate at admission. Conclusions: Evidence-based measures should be applied to the individual to raise cessation and reduction. Additionally, implementing and enforcing smoking restrictions is another effective method to improve the health of the public.