Three-year follow-up survey of smokers who attended 'Good Hearted Glasgow' screening sessions.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate recall of advice and changes in lifestyle amongst smokers who attended 'Good Hearted Glasgow' screening sessions over three years ago.

DESIGN

Follow-up survey based on a postal questionnaire. Answers were compared with the information obtained by 'Good Hearted Glasgow' at the time of the screening session.

SETTING

Two general practices in Glasgow.

SUBJECTS

266 smokers who had attended screening sessions at the two practices over three years ago.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Recall of the advice given; changes which the participants have made in relevant aspects of their lifestyle (smoking, alcohol intake, fat intake, weight loss) since the event; how helpful the participants perceived the advice given at the time to have been in encouraging smoking cessation.

RESULTS

The response rate was 53% (60% female, 42% male). In total, 94% recalled being advised to stop smoking, 77% have attempted to stop smoking and 11% have stopped smoking. Amongst those in the sample who were heavy drinkers at the time, 75% recall being advised to reduce their intake, 56% have attempted to do so and 36% have successfully done so. Amongst those with a raised blood cholesterol concentration, 52% recall it as being high, 68% recalled being advised to reduce their fat intake, 83% have attempted to do so and 53% claim to be on a low fat diet. Of those who were overweight, 68% recalled being advised to loss weight, 77% have attempted to do so and 36% have succeeded in doing so.

CONCLUSIONS

A high proportion of smokers who attended 'Good Hearted Glasgow' screening sessions have attempted to stop smoking three years on but only a small proportion have successfully done so. This compares unfavorably with claimed changes in alcohol intake, fat intake and weight loss.