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Characteristics of patients seeking outpatient smoking cessation treatment before and after the implementation of a smoke-free law in Valencia (Spain): a cross-sectional study

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ObjectiveExplore potential changes in the characteristics of patients requesting smoking cessation treatment at an outpatient setting in Spain before and after Law 42/2010 was enacted.DesignThis is a cross-sectional study with convenience sampling. The information was obtained from the medical records of patients receiving smoking cessation treatment from January 2008 to December 2014.SettingHospital Clinico Universitario de Valencia.Participants423 patients who sought smoking cessation treatment 36 months before or 48 months after the enactment of the law.ResultsAfter the enactment of a comprehensive smoke-free law in Spain, the patients seeking smoking cessation treatment were older (p=0.003), had lower values of exhaled CO (p<0.0001), lower number of previous attempts to quit (p=0.027) and more history of medical problems related to smoking (p=0.002).ConclusionOur findings support the idea that society–nation level interventions could have an impact at the individual level, reflected by the change of patients’ characteristics. It seems that the Law 42/2010 mobilised certain group of patients to seek treatment.