We conducted a questionnaire survey on the current status of smoking cessation clinics to 362 medical institutions in Kyoto Prefecture for the purpose of obtaining the information necessary for the establishment of a smoking cessation outpatient system due to the recommencement of supply of varenicline, and obtained the following results.

The number of smoking cessation outpatients at the participating facilities had dropped by about half since the COVID-19 pandemic and varenicline became unavailable, and had not recovered since COVID-19 was moved to Category 5 of the Infectious Disease Control Law. Of the 77 facilities that responded, 43 (55.8%) had suspended smoking cessation clinics. Even in facilities that continued to provide smoking cessation clinics, the number of smoking cessation outpatients decreased in more than half of the facilities. If the use of varenicline resumed, 86.0% of facilities that had suspended smoking cessation clinics said they would resume smoking cessation clinics. About 60% of respondents said that information and training opportunities for smoking cessation treatment were insufficient.

The results of this survey suggest that it is necessary to share information among medical institutions that provide smoking cessation clinics, develop a smoking cessation support system, and provide training and education opportunities for smoking cessation supporters.