Introduction:
The chances of success to quit smoking are highest when behavioural counselling is combined with pharmacological aids. In Belgium, behavioural counselling is offered by Smoking Cessation Specialists (SCS), healthcare providers additionally trained during a university course to provide evidence-based counselling to smokers.

Aim:
This study investigated the efficacy of SCS-counselling in Belgium.

Material and Methods:
This cross-sectional study compared success rates of smokers who made a quit attempt in the past year (2020) with (n = 214) or without (n = 452) SCS-counselling. Self-reported continuous abstinence (CA, smoke-free since quitdate) and point prevalence (PP, not smoked in the past 7 days) were used as outcomes in logistic regression models.

Results:
Success rates were higher in those who received SCS-counselling (CA 52.8%, PP 63.1%) than those who tried to quit by other means (CA 32.7%, PP 39.8%). Counselling could significantly predict successful quitting even after controlling for medical problems, smoking profile, previous quit attempts and pharmacological aid (ORCA = 2.929 [1.917 – 4.476], Z (1) = 24.678, p < .001; ORPP = 3.190 [2.097 – 4.854], Z (1) = 29.351, p < .001).

Conclusions:
Smokers can increase their chances to quit by receiving SCS-counselling, regardless of their medical health, smoking profile, previous attempts and usage of pharmacological aids.