Bupropion SR vs placebo for smoking cessation in health care professionals.

Author(s): Zellweger JP, Boelcskei PL, Carrozzi L, Sepper R, Sweet R, Hider AZ

Affiliation(s): University Medical Policlinic, 10011 Lausanne, Switzerland. zellwegerjp@swissonline.ch

Publication date & source: 2005-05, Am J Health Behav., 29(3):240-9.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Multicenter Study; Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate bupropion SR for smoking cessation in physicians and nurses. METHODS: This double-blind prospective 26-center, 12-country trial randomized 687 subjects to smoking cessation counselling with bupropion SR or placebo for 7 weeks. The participants were followed for 52 weeks. RESULTS: Bupropion SR was superior to placebo (50% vs 40%, P=0.013) on the 4-week primary outcome variable. Due to a high placebo response in this health care population, statistical differences were not maintained after treatment was discontinued. CONCLUSIONS: Bupropion SR is effective and well tolerated in health care professionals. Relapse prevention measures are needed to attain long-term abstinence.