Background and aim: 'Teachable moments', such as inpatient treatment periods, can be turned into opportunities for smokers to acquire healthy living behaviors. This study was started during the pandemic period due to the search for an alternative solution to the disrupted smoking cessation services.

Methods: Data was collected for this prospective cohort study between 10.05.2021 and 10.05.2022 from hospitalized patients. Current smokers at age 18 years and older were included in the study. Patients with COVID-19 diagnosis and with impaired cognitive functions were excluded. Smoking cessation counseling and short smoking cessation interventions were applied to the patients during their hospitalization, and they were informed about how to apply to smoking cessation outpatient clinic of our hospital after their discharge. They were followed via phone at 3rd, 5th,7th days and 1st, 3rd, 6th, 12th months after their discharge regarding their quit status as well as admissions to smoking cessation clinics. Quitters were confirmed by exhaled air carbon monoxide testing.

Results: Mean age of the total 183 patients was 54.1±14.8, 85.5% was male, 68.9% received inpatient treatment in internal branch services, 31.1% in surgical branch services. Mean hospitalization period was 6.48±6.02 days. The mean smoking pack year was 54.3±37.9, and the mean score of Fagerström test for nicotine dependence was 5.90±1.82. After discharge 34.9% (n:64) have applied to the smoking cessation outpatient clinic. The rate of quitters at first year was 36%.
 
Conclusion: This cessation program has increased the quit rates of hospitalized smokers at first year, additionally it is clinically relevant and feasible to disseminate countrywide.