Abstract
M.Tech.
There are an estimated 1.2 billion smokers globally (WHO, 2004) and according to Groenewald et al. (2007) approximately 24% of South African adults smoke. The use of tobacco is the second highest cause of death and disability in the world (WHO, 2004), the primary cause of death in the United States (Abrams et al., 2003) and the third leading risk factor in South Africa (Norman et al., 2007). This malady is preventable and as such, the use of tobacco must be regarded as an important public health and treatment priority. In dealing with smoking cessation Lebargy (2000), concluded that nicotine replacement therapy has a success rate of between 20% and 25%. What is significant though is that currently used and recommended conventional smoking cessation techniques have many side-effects and contra-indications. They further stress the importance of new more effective techniques in order to fight the pan-epidemic of smoking (Henningfield et al., 2005; Mitrouska et al., 2007) The remedy being investigated is a homoeopathic preparation, Anti Smoking complex, consisting of Avena sativa D3, Daphne indica D6, Nux vomica D6, Caladium seguinum D60, Nicotinum D60 and Nicotiana tabacum D60. The aim of the research was to evaluate the efficacy of the Anti Smoking complex in the treatment of smoking cessation and nicotine withdrawal symptoms of smokers between the ages of eighteen and sixty years. The efficacy of the Anti Smoking Complex was evaluated in terms of the Fagerström Test of Nicotine Dependence (FTND), the Wisconsin Inventory of Smoking Dependence Motives (WISDM-68), weekly smoking logs, and withdrawal symptoms for the purpose of identifying a safer alternative in the treatment of smoking cessation and nicotine withdrawal symptoms. A sample group of thirty participants was recruited at the University of Johannesburg Health Centre and various local pharmacies. Participants attended an initial interview, where they were screened by means of questionnaires and physical examinations. Inclusion criteria comprised of: adults between the ages of 18 and 60 years, who were smoking more than 10 cigarettes a day for at least a year with a score of five to seven on the FTND. Reliability and validity of clinical investigations was ensured by adherence to procedural documentation.
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The study was conducted over a nine week period and was a random double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Participation in the study was voluntary and participants were free to refuse treatment or withdraw from the study at any time. Participants were placed into two groups of fifteen – the experimental group had to take 10 drops of the Anti Smoking complex four times daily for six weeks and the control group had to take placebo on the same basis. Follow up appointments to monitor results took place on week 1, 4, 7 and 9 respectively. Collected data was analysed using descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages). The data gathered from the FTND, the WISDM-68 and questionnaires was statistically analysed. The results of the experimental and controlled groups were compared using independent samples t-tests. Disparities of clear-cut variables was analysed using Chi-squared tests. Over time differences was analysed using repeated measures ANOVA (Eiselen, 2007). The homoeopathic complex, Anti Smoking Complex is effective in the treatment of smoking cessation. Both the results of the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence and Wisconsin Inventory for Smoking Dependence supported the above. An overall smoking cessation rate of 20.0% was obtained after the nine week trial period. Of particular importance, there was no significant effect on any of the parameters of the withdrawal symptoms questionnaire. As withdrawal symptoms are a key component of smoking cessation, the action of the complex is incomplete.