A Plan of Group Therapy for Smoking Cessation in Patients Suffering From Buerger's Disease: A Case Series Study in Northeast Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Buerger's disease (BD) is a chronic peripheral vascular disease that affects the young smokers from low socioeconomic backgrounds. The only effective therapy for this disease is smoking cessation; otherwise the outcome of BD will be several amputations. Aims & Methods: Via 12 sessions, an elective pattern of group therapy was designed and tried with six volunteer patients. The therapy commenced with motivation, mixed with a behavioural and cognitive model appropriate to the patients' socioeconomic and educational status. Two extra training sessions of apposite and supporting behaviour were allocated for their family members. Urine cotinine level was measured before and after the group therapy. The aim of study was to lead the patients towards a self-help group. Results: A partial remission of the disease in one patient and a complete remission in four patients were the consequences of the present study. The average decline of urine cotinine level was about two ranks. One patient was not helped. Conclusion: Although the study faced major loss of subjects, in regards to dramatic changes in urine cotinine level, this plan of group therapy seems to be an effective and cost-effective option for clinical improvement in patients with BD, as a chronic and smoking-related disease.