The Efficacy of Herbal Cigarettes (Kumyeoncho) and Nicotine Patches in Smoking Cessation.

Cheong, Yoo Seock

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Academy of Family Medicine 2003;24(11):1003-1009.
Published online November 10, 2003.

The Efficacy of Herbal Cigarettes (Kumyeoncho) and Nicotine Patches in Smoking Cessation.

Yoo Seock Cheong

Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, Dankook University, Seoul, Korea. drloved@unitel.co.kr

궐련형 금연보조제(금연초)와 니코틴 패치의 금연효과

정유석

단국대학교 의과대학 가정의학교실

Abstract

Background
: Among the various brands of herbal cigarettes currently available in Korea, Kumyeoncho is the most popular. However, there is no clinical evidence that these herbal cigarettes are effective in helping smokers quit smoking. This study was performed to determine the long term effectiveness of Kumyeoncho herbal cigarettes.

Methods : Two hundred smokers, all employees of the same company in Cheonan city, voluntarily participated in this study. They were divided into two random groups: 100 smokers used Kumyencho (herbal cigarettes), and the other 100 smokers used nicotine patches. Between July 2002 and February 2003, the smoking status of all participants was evaluated at one month, three months, and six months, after they stopped using regular cigarettes.

Results : The success rates at 1 month were 54.5% for the Kumyeoncho group and 50.7% for the nicotine patch group (P=0.643). The success rates at 3 month were 41.4% and 39.4%, respectively (P=0.875). And the success rates at 6 month were 38.8% and 35.2%, respectively (P=0.747). Statistical analysis showed that the success rate for the Kumyeoncho group was not less than that for the nicotine patch group in all periods. Thirty-seven cases of adverse effects were reported in the Kumyeoncho group: 25 (25.5%) of nausea, 6 (6.1%) of coughing, 5 (5.1%) of dizziness, and 1 (1.0%) of palpitation; thirty-nine cases of adverse effects were reported for nicotine patch users: 18 (25.4%) of itching, 15 (21.1%) of skin irritation and erythema, 2 (2.8%) of dizziness and headache each, and 1 (1.4%) of nausea and palpitation each.

Conclusion : With respect to the short and long term effects of herbal cigarettes, Kumyeoncho is considered similarly effective to nicotine patches.

Key Words: .Kumyeoncho, herbal cigarette, nicotine patch, randomized controlled trial

초록

연구배경 : 현재 국내에 몇 가지 종류의 궐련형 금연보조제들이 시판 중에 있다. 금연초는 이 중 가장 인지도가 높은 제품으로 많은 흡연자들이 이용하고 있으나, 아직까지 제대로 된 임상연구가 시도된 적이 없다. 본 연구는 금연초의 단기 및 장기 금연효과를 알아보고자 시행되었다.

방법 : 2002년 7월부터 2003년 2월까지 지방에 위치한 대기업 사원 200명에게 무작위로 각각 100명씩 금연초와 니코틴 패치를 지급하고 1, 3, 6개월 후의 금연여부를 조사하였다.

결과 : 1개월 금연성공률은 금연초군의 경우 54.5%, 패치군은 50.7%이었으며(P=0.643), 3개월 금연성공률은 각각 41.4%와 39.4%(P=0.875), 6개월 금연성공률은 금연초군은 38.8%, 패치군은 35.2%로(P=0.747) 금연초군의 금연성공률은 전 시점에서 니코틴 패치군보다 낮지 않았다. 금연초를 피우는 동안(순간) 특이하게 나타난 부작용은 총 37건이 보고되었으며, '메스꺼움' 25건(25.3%), '기침' 6건(6.1%), '어지럼증' 5건(5.1%), '심계항진' 1건(1.0%)의 순이었다. 니코틴 패치를 붙이고 나서 특이하게 나타난 부작용은 총 39건이 보고되었으며, '가려움증' 18건(25.4%), 피부발적 및 두드러기 15건(21.1%), 어지럼증과 두통이 각각 2건(2.8%), 메스꺼움과 심계항진이 각각 1건(1.4%)씩이었다.

결론 : 궐련형 금연보조제인 금연초는 니코틴 패치와 유사한 정도의 장단기 금연효과가 있는 것으로 생각된다.

중심 단어: 금연초, 궐련형 금연보조제, 니코틴 패치, 무작위 대조군 연구