Effectiveness of anti-tobacco brief intervention method in a Costa Rican facility

According to the last report on smoking, elaborated by specialists of the Costa Rican Social Security Institution (CCSS), presented on May 2011, 14,2 % of the Costa Rican population, 20 years old and older, smoke; 65% of this population smoke daily, consuming in average 11 cigarettes per day.  The group of people with the highest smoking rate is the one included in the range between 20 to 39 years old. The Social Security System spent $144 million dollars in medical attention to smoking related diseases in 2010.  There is no doubt smoking has a great impact in health and economy of both general and working populations; therefore, any effort made to diminish smoking rates will have an impact in the prevalence of smoking related diseases and workers’ sickness absence.  This report will point out the most relevant aspects followed by a Costa Rican Company in order to be certified as a Tobacco Smoke-Free Environment, and will particularly emphasize on the  effectiveness of Anti-Tobacco Brief Intervention Method to help workers to stop smoking. 92% of a 365 workers facility, average age of 45 years old, dedicated to oil distribution, were interviewed to assess the smoking prevalence of the population, and to determine the number of people interested in participating in a smoking cessation clinic to quit smoking, using an eight session program known as CICLI. The intervention started in September 2010 and the results after one year follow-up will be presented at the ICOH Congress in Cancun, Mexico, discussing the details of the intervention strategy and its effectiveness in comparison to other methods described in medical literature.