Effectiveness of Smoking Cessation Education

Smoking is an important psychosocial problem that concerns society. It is reported that 1.3 billion people use tobacco products in the world and approximately 6 million people lose their lives due to smoking every year. Despite the high mortality rate, smoking addiction is shown as one of the biggest preventable diseases and causes of death. Individuals with mental health problems have a much higher smoking rate than the general population. Studies show that people with severe mental disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression have a smoking rate three to four times higher than the general population. It has been reported that this high smoking rate is associated with more morbidity, mortality and increased healthcare costs in individuals with severe mental disorders.

It is reported that nurses, who spend the most time with patients and constitute the largest group of healthcare personnel, have an effective role in smoking cessation initiatives. The importance of nurses in tobacco control is emphasized in the publication titled "Nurses for a Tobacco-Free Life" by the International Council of Nursing (ICN). Although both national and international literature demonstrates that smoking is a serious problem in individuals with severe mental illness through descriptive research results, it is seen that smoking cessation intervention studies are quite limited. Randomized controlled intervention studies examining the effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions applied by nurses to individuals with severe mental illnesses could not be found in the literature. This study will be conducted to examine the effectiveness of smoking cessation education in patients registered in a community mental health center.

In light of this information, this study was planned as a randomized controlled study to examine the effectiveness of smoking cessation education in patients registered in a community mental health center. The data obtained from this study will reveal the effectiveness of smoking cessation education in individuals with severe mental illnesses and contribute to filling the gap in the literature in this area. In addition, a method for using smoking cessation education in individuals with severe mental illnesses will be presented with a high level of evidence study.

Smoking is a significant psychosocial issue that affects society. The substance responsible for smoking addiction is nicotine, which has a stronger addictive potential than other psychoactive substances. Tobacco, in addition to its many physical health risks, is also a psychoactive substance that can lead to mental and behavioral disorders. It is estimated that 1.3 billion people worldwide use tobacco products, and approximately 8 million people die each year due to smoking. Despite the high mortality rate, smoking addiction is considered one of the leading preventable causes of disease and death.

Individuals with mental health disorders have significantly higher smoking rates compared to the general population. Studies indicate that people diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression smoke at a rate three to four times higher than the general public. This high smoking prevalence among individuals with severe mental illness is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and higher healthcare costs. Reducing the burden of physical illness among people with mental disorders is recognized as a national priority, making smoking cessation among these individuals particularly important.

Nurses, who form the largest group among healthcare professionals and spend the most time with patients, play a crucial role in smoking cessation efforts. Nurses are expected to be actively involved in smoking prevention and cessation. International health authorities emphasize the need for nurses to be at the forefront of tobacco control efforts.

Global smoking cessation campaigns primarily target healthy individuals as part of preventive health strategies. However, special groups such as psychiatric patients should also be included in smoking cessation initiatives. Research indicates that a significant proportion of individuals with mental illness who smoke express a desire to quit. Furthermore, interventions that enhance smoking cessation success among the general population are also effective for individuals with mental health disorders. It is strongly recommended that evidence-based smoking cessation interventions be applied to individuals with mental disorders, just as they are to the general population.

Given the high prevalence of nicotine addiction among individuals with mental disorders and the preventable nature of smoking-related deaths, the importance of smoking cessation initiatives becomes evident. However, research has shown that mental health teams do not consistently implement evidence-based smoking cessation interventions. Although literature highlights the severity of smoking issues among individuals with severe mental illness, studies on smoking cessation interventions remain limited. Notably, randomized controlled trials examining the effectiveness of nurse-led smoking cessation interventions for this population are scarce.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of smoking cessation education among patients registered at community mental health centers. It is expected to contribute to reducing smoking addiction, which is prevalent among individuals with mental disorders, while also raising awareness among mental health professionals, particularly nurses, about the importance of smoking cessation efforts.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Being registered with TRSM (Community Mental Health Center)
* Being in the remission phase (the period after the patient's treatment is completed, with no observed active symptoms and improved insight)
* Smoking at least one cigarette per day regularly
* Being open to communication and collaboration
* Being over the age of 18
* Volunteering to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Not being registered with TRSM (Community Mental Health Center)
* Not being in the remission phase (presence of active symptoms or lack of improved insight)
* Smoking less than one cigarette per day
* Being unwilling or unable to communicate and collaborate effectively
* Being under the age of 18
* Not volunteering or unwilling to participate in the study.