Cytisine as a pharmacological treatment for smoking cessation. A case report

Abstract

Tobacco use remains high today, and in individuals with mental health illnesses an even greater prevalence is found. For giving up this consumption, a new drug is currently available in Spain, cytisine, a drug previously used with the same indication in Eastern European and Asian countries. When administered on a tapering schedule, it helps to reduce the craving caused by nicotine, the total duration of treatment being 25 days. We present the clinical case of a 63-year-old patient who, through admission to the day hospital, gives up tobacco use with pharmacological treatment with cytisine. In addition to pharmacological treatment, psychoeducational strategies are applied and the patient attends different therapeutic groups. The clinical case is described and, after carrying out a nursing assessment according to Marjory Gordon’s functional health patterns, an individualized care plan is developed using the NANDA (North American Nursing Diagnosis Association) taxonomy, with its corresponding outcomes obtained (NOC) and interventions carried out (NIC). The NANDA diagnoses identified include, among others, “[00182] Readiness for enhanced self-care” and “[00188] Risk-prone health behaviour: impaired ability to modify lifestyle”.