Effectiveness of smoking cessation intervention in opioid-dependent male subjects on buprenorphine maintenance treatment: An open-label trial.

Background: High prevalence (more than 80%) rates of tobacco smoking have been found both in, opioid-dependent subjects and among opioid-dependent subjects on opioid substitution treatment (OST) with buprenorphine or methadone. Aim: We aimed to explore the efficacy of combined nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and individual counseling (IC) when compared to NRT alone in subjects on OST with buprenorphine. Methods: This study was carried out in a tertiary medical care center. It was an open-label randomized clinical trial. A total of 57 buprenorphine maintained smokers were recruited and randomized into two groups. They were assigned nicotine gum for 4 weeks plus either (1) a baseline IC session, and a second IC session after 1 week, or (2) simple advice to quit. In the first group, 31 subjects received NRT with IC and in the second group, 26 subjects received NRT plus simple advice to quit. The primary outcomes of this study were seven days point prevalence abstinence, biochemically confirmed by carbon monoxide (CO) breath analyzer, and reduction in smoking (mean no. of cigarettes or bidis/day). The smoking behavior during the 4 weeks follow-up period was assessed by the timeline follow-back (TLFB) method and confirmed by the CO breath analyzer. Results: The group of subjects who received NRT with IC showed higher rates of smoking cessation at the end of treatment (51%) as compared to the NRT and simple advice group where smoking cessation rates were around 8% (P < 0.001). Conclusion: A multi-component approach (pharmacotherapy and counseling) enhances treatment outcomes and enhances rates of abstinence from smoking.

Identification of instruments for evaluation of behavioural and psychological parameters associated with obesity management: A systematic review with narrative synthesis of the findings.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To identify instruments used to evaluate the predictors of successful weight loss across weight loss trials. METHODS: We searched PubMed, PsychInfo, Cochrane Reviews and Scopus for weight loss trials reporting instruments published in the last 16 years. RESULTS: A total of 46 significant behavioral and psychological predictors were identified, of which 32 instruments were finally selected. SF-36 questionnaire and Obesity Related Problem Scale for psychosocial health, TREMORE scale for motivation, Social Support Scale for support, Weight Efficacy Lifestyle Scale for self-efficacy and Body Shape Questionnaire for body image had moderate quality. Barriers to healthy eating questionnaire scale and Dutch Eating Behavior also had moderate quality. CONCLUSION: Use of uniform instruments with optimum quality can benefit clinical and community-based researchers to generate reliable datasets.