Abstract
This article sums up the evaluation of the intensive specialized treatment of tobacco dependence in the Czech Republic according to international guidelines and the ratified Framework Convention on Tobacco Control of the World Health Organization. 36 centers (100 %) were evaluated in 2016 and compared with the same survey from 2012. Most of the centers (24 of 36) are based at pulmonary clinics, opening hours for the smokers are on average 7 hours/week (0.5-40.0, SD +- 9, median 4).
Average number of new patients is 55/year per center (2-449, SD +- 77.26, median 32). Follow-up period is 12 months in 27 centers, 6-12 months in 2 centers, 6 months in 4 centers, and 3 months in 4 centers.
The average number of visits per year is 5 (2-11, SD +- 2.03, median 4.5). The baseline visit takes on average 67 minutes (66.81 in the range of 25-180 minutes, SD +- 32.24, median 60), follow-up visits 24 minutes (23.86 minutes in the range of 12-45, SD +- 7.7, median 20).
Nicotine replacement therapy is indicated in most centers (33), varenicline in all of them except of one, and bupropion in 16 centers. Lack of personal and time possibilities is considered the most frequent barriers of broader activity.
In the future, working conditions should be more supported in those centers so that this needed, effective and highly cost-effective treatment could be more available to smokers.