Varenicline Versus Cytisine for Smoking Cessation in Primary Care Setting

Varenicline Versus Cytisine for Smoking Cessation in the Primary Care Setting in Croatia and Slovenia - a Randomized Controlled Trial

The overall goals of this study are to 1) assess awareness of interest in the use of pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation in Croatia and Slovenia, countries in Central Europe with very high smoking prevalence, and 2) investigate whether cytisine is at least as feasible and effective as varenicline in helping smokers to quit in a real-life setting: family medicine practices in Croatia and Slovenia. The investigators propose to survey patients from 40 primary care practices (20 in Croatia and 20 in Slovenia) to assess desire to quit smoking and awareness and interest in pharmacotherapy. Additionally, 380 patients with interest in quitting smoking will be randomly assigned to use varenicline or cytisine to help quit smoking.

The investigators hypothesize that cytisine is at least as feasible and effective as varenicline in helping smokers from primary care practices in Croatia and Slovenia to quit smoking.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Receive care in one of forty family medicine practices in Croatia and Slovenia
• Aged 18 or older
• Current smokers
• Indicate a desire to stop smoking and to use pharmacotherapy.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Mental illness who cannot provide informed consent for the study
• Pregnant or breastfeeding.