The Consensus Conference on smoking cessation was held on October 8-9, 1998.
A jury, made up of  twelve non-specialists in smoking cessation,  listened to 26 expert presentations on the different topics related to the 4 questions detailed below, and was provided with  written documentation from a group of 5 other experts. After the 2-day presentation, the jury was allowed a 2-day meeting to reach its recommendations.

FOREWORD
This conference was organised and conducted in accordance with the methodological rules recommended by the National Agency of Accreditation and Evaluation in Health (ANAES : Agence Nationale d'Accréditation et d'Evaluation en Santé). Conclusions and recommendations presented in this document were written by the conference jury in total independence. ANES has no responsibility for these conclusions and recommendations.
 

Introduction

In 1998, there can be  no more controversy about the deleterious effects of tobacco consumption and the beneficial effects of smoking cessation. The reduction of tobacco consumption is by far the most important factor with potential to would reduce morbidity and premature deaths.

In France, around one third of the adult population smoke regularly, and the incidence reaches 50% in young adults aged 18-24. Tobacco is responsible for one third of all cancers , and has a major role in pulmonary and cardiovascular morbidity. Tobacco consumption is, in our country, a priority in Public Health.

Facing this reality, our society behaves paradoxically. For the vast majority of smokers, the pleasurable sensations produced by the psychoactive effects of tobacco smoking far outweigh the relatively long-term health risks. This attitude is reinforced by the difficulties of quitting smoking, which are mostly due to the addictive potential of nicotine.

Individual and collective actions taken in favor of tobacco control have been until now of  limited efficacy. The Consensus Conference on Smoking Cessation, held in Paris on October 8-9, 1998, chose to define practical objectives. The proposed recommendations aim at informing all health professionals on the different pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies, their advantages, their limitations, the difficulties of setting up such therapies, and encouraging greater professional involvement. These recommendations are also aimed at public opinion, through health professionals, to fight against the despondency and disillusion of many smokers. They are also aimed at public health authorities, to lobby for a political framework favouring smoking cessation.
 

Question 1 : Data on tobacco use, the risks associated with its consumption and the consequences of smoking cessation.

Question 2 : How to take into account the individual characteristics of a smoker to obtain smoking cessation ?

Question 3 : What are the methods used to help smokers to quit and which ones are scientifically proven ?

Question 4 : What are the conditions to set up that will allow more health professionals to intervene effectively with  an increasing number of smokers ?

The full text version in French can be requested from :
Agence Nationale d'Accréditation et d'Evaluation en Santé
Service Communication et Diffusion
159, rue Nationale 75640 PARIS cedex 13
A book version is published by EDK ( Tel +33 1 40 64 27 49 / Fax + 33 1 40 64 27 47 )
 

This conference was made possible with the help of :

State Secretariat of Health, Education, Research and Technology Ministry, French Health Education Committee, National Health Insurance, French Medical Association, French Pharmacists Association, French Dentists Association, French Behavioural and Cognitive Therapy Association, French Urology Association, French College of Vascular Pathology, National College of French Gynaecologists/Obstetricians, National Committee on Respiratory Diseases and Tuberculosis, National Confederation of Dentist Unions, French Federation of Cardiology, National Federation of Centres for Fight Against Cancer, Union of Odontology –Stomatology Scientific Societies, French Thoracic Society, French Society of Othorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Pathology, French Society of Cardiology, French Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, French Society for Hypertension, French Society of General Practice Medicine, French Society of Micro-circulation, Pediatric Society, French Public Health Society, French Cancer Society, French Alliance for Health – Coalition against Tobacco, Cancer Research Association, National Committee Against Tobacco, National League Against Cancer, Tobacco and Freedom Association, Tobacco-Free Hospital Network.

Sponsors :

Direction générale de la santé (Ministry of Health)
Caisse nationale de l'assurance maladie des travailleurs salariés (State Health Insurance)
Association pour la Recherche sur le Cancer (Cancer Research Association)
Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer (National League Against Cancer)
Bayer Pharma
Laboratoires Hoechst-Houdé
Produits Roche.

Organising Committee :

M Tubiana, Honorarium president
D Thomas, President
E André, F Baudier, F Bonnaud, A Borgne, JP Broustet, G Brücker, F Carpentier, P Dosquet,
A Durocher, G Errieau, A Hirsch, F Lavergne, B Lebeau, M Legrain C Mathiot, HJ Philippe,
E Rusch, AM Schoelcher

Jury :

M Legrain, President
M Coletti, J Chwallow, S Dally, M Detilleux, F Dievart, I Gremy,
G Kantor, R Knockaert, JJ Larzul, M Vigy, D Zmirou

Experts :

K Abdennbi, C André, HJ Aubin, M Bastide, J Becchio, P Castera, AM Clauzel, JP Colau,
G Demigneux, C Gillet, D Grizeau, C Hill, S Karsenty, G Lagrue, JM Leder, J Le Houezec,
G Pfeiffer, O Pomerleau, J Prignot, P Ravaud, H Sancho-Garnier, S Sareto, K Slama, J Tichet,
J Tredaniel, A Walter

Literature group :

B Dautzenberg, P Arwdison, K Bissell, P Mélihan-Cheinin, A Velter

Translation by Jacques Le Houezec (with additional input from Martin Jarvis)