[Cost-effectiveness of the methods of smoking cessation].

BACKGROUND

The cost-effectiveness of the following methods of cessation of smoking were calculated in this study: 1) medical advice, 2) medical advice and nicotine chiclets, and 3) medical advice and nicotine patches.

METHODS

The costs and effectiveness of the methods of cessation of smoking compared in terms of cost per year of life gained, deducing the costs and benefits at 5%.

RESULTS

The cost per year of life gained was found to be 260,000 to 434,000 pesetas in males and 441,000 to 637,000 in women for medical advice, 287,000 to 479,000 in males and 486,000 to 703,000 in females for advice and nicotine chiclets and 329,000 to 549,000 in males and 557,000 to 805,000 in females for advice and nicotine patches. Maximum efficacy was achieved with the three methods in the age group from 45-59 years in males and from 50-54 years in females. On comparison of cost and effectiveness of the methods of nicotine substitution with those calculated for medical advice the increase in cost-effectiveness was shown to be 395,000 to 658,000 in males and 668,000 to 966,000 in females for advice and chiclets and from 467,000 to 779,000 in males and 791,000 to 1,142,000 in females for advice and patches. The increase in cost-effectiveness for advice and patches versus advice and chiclets was from 539,000 to 899,000 in males and 913,000 to 1,318,000 in females.

CONCLUSIONS

The efficiency of achieving the cessation of smoking is very similar for medical advice and medical advice plus nicotine chiclets and is somewhat less for medical advice and nicotine patches. The results of this study place the methods of smoking cessation among the most effective health care procedures.