Hamide VURAL, Buğu Usanma KOBAN, Mehmet AKMAN, Gülru Pemra Cöbek ÜNALAN
Türkiye Aile Hekimliği Dergisi - 2026;30(2):107-118
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate patients' use of cytisine prescribed as a smoking cessation medication, the frequency of observed side effects, and smoking cessation rates at the Marmara University Family Medicine Smoking Cessation Clinic, thereby laying the groundwork for future research on cytisine use in Turkey. Methods: The descriptive study included 256 participants who applied to the Marmara University Department of Family Medicine's Smoking Cessation Clinic between May 2024 and March 2025 and underwent cytisine treatment. Participants' sociodemographic characteristics, smoking status, cytisine use, and treatment processes were retrospectively collected via a questionnaire administered through telephone interviews. Tobacco dependence level was assessed using the Fagerström nicotine dependence test (FNDT). The dependent variable of the study is smoking cessation status; the independent variables are age, gender, education level, smoking burden, medication completion, and attendance at follow-up appointments. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 software, and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The average age of participants was 40.7+/-0.9 years, the average FNDT score was 6.3+/-2.2, and the average smoking burden (pack/year) was 24.9+/-1.3. In our study, 31% of individuals who initiated cytisine treatment were not smoking at follow-up. The proportion of participants who remained non-smoking status at assessment was significantly higher among those with lower smoking burden, those who attended follow-up appointments, those with higher perceived income, and those who completed the medication (p=0.027, p=0.035, p<=0.001, p=0.020). In multivariable analysis, higher perceived income independently predicted non-smoking status at follow-up (aOR=1.91, p=0.004), whereas treatment completion showed borderline significance. At least one side effect was observed in 31.5% (n=79) of participants; the most commonly reported were nausea (10.2%), palpitations (3.9%), dizziness (3.5%), and mood changes (3.5%). Conclusion: In this real-world clinical setting, 31% of patients receiving cytisine were classified as non-smokers at follow-up. In the context of limited national data, these results offer exploratory evidence to guide the design of future randomized controlled trials.
