OBJECTIVETo analyze the underlying factors related to smoking and cessation compliance in patients following coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG).

METHODSFrom October, 2008 to January, 2009, a total of 160 CABG patients received questionnaires concerning smoking and smoking cessation compliance in Peking university people's hospital, 153 patients completed the questionnaires and were divided into non-smoking (72 patients) and smoking group (81 patients).

RESULTSCognition was better in non-smokers than smokers on smoking-related health hazards (100% vs. 91.4%, P = 0.011) and on the relationship between smoking and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (80.6% vs. 60.5%, P = 0.007) while cognition was better in smokers than non-smokers on the relationship between smoking and ischemic heart disease (61.7% vs. 40.3%, P = 0.008). Compared with non-smoker, smokers acquired significantly more knowledge on smoking and smoking cessation from friends and colleagues (22.2% vs.8.3%, P = 0.018) and from medical professionals (55.6% vs. 26.4%, P = 0.000). In the smoking group, 68 patients quit smoking (84.0%), while the remaining 13 patients failed to quit smoking (16.0%) post CABG. The smoking cessation patients were superior to the smoker patients on smoking cessation compliance (82.4% vs. 38.5%, P = 0.001) and support from family members (94.1% vs. 61.5%, P = 0.003). The nicotine dependence scores of current smokers significantly declined after CABG (preoperative 3.77 ± 2.31 vs. postoperative 2.46 ± 2.30, P = 0.008).

CONCLUSIONSCognition on the relationship between smoking and coronary heart disease as well as other diseases should be improved in patients underwent CABG. Medical staff and family members play an equal important role on improving the smoking cessation rate for patients post CABG.