Quitting-related beliefs, intentions, and motivations of older smokers in four countries: findings from the international tobacco control policy evaluation survey (original) (raw)
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International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2016
An investigation of beliefs used to rationalise smoking will have important implications for the content of anti-smoking programs targeted at socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, who show the lowest rates of cessation in the population. This study aimed to assess the types of self-exempting beliefs reported by a sample of socioeconomically disadvantaged smokers, and identify associations between these beliefs and other smoking-related factors with quit intentions. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from March-December 2012 with smokers seeking welfare assistance in New South Wales (NSW), Australia (n = 354; response rate 79%). Responses to a 16-item self-exempting beliefs scale and intention to quit, smoker identity, and enjoyment of smoking were assessed. Most participants earned <AUD$400/week (70%), and had not completed secondary schooling (64%). All "jungle" beliefs (normalising the dangers of smoking due to ubiquity of risk) and selected "skeptic" beliefs were endorsed by 25%-47% of the sample, indicating these smokers may not fully understand the extensive risks associated with smoking. Smokers with limited quit intentions held significantly stronger self-exempting beliefs than those contemplating or preparing to quit (all p < 0.01). After adjusting for smoking-related variables only "skeptic" beliefs were significantly associated with intention to quit (p = 0.02). Some of these beliefs are incorrect and could be addressed in anti-smoking campaigns.
BMJ open, 2017
To investigate whether age is associated with access to smoking cessation services. Data from the Smoking Toolkit Study 2006-2015, a repeated multiwave cross-sectional household survey (n=181 157). England. Past-year smokers who participated in any of the 102 waves stratified into age groups. Amount smoked and nicotine dependency, self-reported quit attempts and use of smoking cessation interventions. Self-report of whether the general practitioner (GP) raised the topic of smoking and made referrals for pharmacological support (prescription of nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs)) or other support (counselling or support groups). Older smokers (75+ years) were less likely to report that they were attempting to quit smoking or seek help from a GP, despite being less nicotine-dependent. GPs raised smoking as a topic equally across all age groups, but smokers aged 70+ were more likely not to be referred for NRT or other support (ORs relative to 16-54 years; 70-74 years 1.27, 95% CI 1....
Perceived risks and benefits of quitting smoking in non-treatment seekers
Addiction Research & Theory, 2010
Little is known about beliefs about quitting and treatment motivation in non-treatment seeking smokers. One hundred eight-eight daily cigarette smokers not currently motivated to quit smoking completed measures of perceived risks and benefits of quitting and motivation to quit. Self esteem related to quitting was positively related to desire to quit, expected success at quitting, confidence in quitting, and motivation to quit. Greater perceived risks of cravings were related to greater expected difficulty of remaining abstinent, and greater perceived risk of increased negative affect was related to decreased expectation of success at quitting, confidence for quitting, and increased expectation for difficulty remaining abstinent. Greater perceived risk of weight gain was related to being less likely to have a goal of complete abstinence. There were no gender, ethnicity, age, or education differences in the relationship of perceived risks and benefits of quitting and motivation. Knowing the risks and benefits that relate to motivation to quit for non-treatment seeking smokers provides the foundation for targeting this group in campaigns to increase quit motivation.
A characterisation of smokers and factors influencing motivation to stop smoking
Revista Portuguesa de Pneumologia (English Edition), 2009
Introdução: O tabaco é actualmente um dos maiores problemas de saúde pública. Desta forma, o conhecimento do perfil do fumador é essencial para poder adequar estratégias de intervenção, sendo fundamental avaliar a sua motivação. Objectivos: Calcular a prevalência de fumadores de quatro ficheiros de três centros de saúde do distrito de Coimbra e caracterizá -los em termos demográficos, padrão de consumo, motivação para a cessação tabágica e comorbilidades. Determinar a relação entre motivação para deixar de fumar e idade, sexo, idade de início e Abstract Background: Smoking is currently a leading public health priority. Profiling smokers allows for adequate intervention strategies and it is important to assess smokers' motivation. Aims: To calculate the rate of smokers in 4 files from 3 Health Centres in Coimbra and characterise smokers in terms of demographics, consumption pattern, motivation for smoking cessation and co -morbidities. Investigate the relationship between motivation to stop smoking and age, gender, consumption and age at starting smoking and cardiovascular, respiratory and psychiatric co -morbidities.
Addiction, 2004
Aims Despite the existence of effective cessation methods, the vast majority of smokers attempt to quit on their own. To date, there is little evidence to explain the low adoption rates for effective forms of cessation assistance, including pharmaceutical aids. This study sought to assess smokers' awareness and perceived effectiveness of cessation methods and to examine the relationship of this knowledge to cessation behaviour. Design A random-digit-dial telephone survey (response rate = 76%) with 3month follow-up was conducted with 616 adult daily smokers in South-Western Ontario, Canada. Measurements A baseline survey assessed smoking behaviour, as well as smokers' awareness and perceived effectiveness of cessation assistance. A follow-up survey measured changes in smoking behaviour and adoption of cessation assistance at 3 months. Findings Participants demonstrated a poor recall of cessation methods: 45% of participants did not recall nicotine gum, 33% did not recall the nicotine patch and 57% did not recall bupropion. Also, many participants did not believe that the following cessation methods would increase their likelihood of quitting: nicotine replacement therapies (36%), bupropion (35%), counselling from a health professional (66%) and group counselling/quit programmes (50%). In addition, 78% of smokers indicated that they were just as likely to quit on their own as they were with assistance. Most important, participants who perceived cessation methods to be effective at baseline, were more likely to intend to quit (OR = 1.80, 95% CI: 1.12-2.90), make a quit attempt at follow-up (OR = 1.80, 95% CI: 1.03-3.16) and to adopt cessation assistance when doing so (OR = 3.62, 95% CI: 1.04-12.58). Conclusions This research suggests that many smokers may be unaware of effective cessation methods and most underestimate their benefit. Further, this lack of knowledge may represent a significant barrier to treatment adoption.
The Cardiff Health Survey. The relationship between smoking habits and beliefs in the elderly
Public health, 1988
A survey of over 4,000 people in Cardiff about their health beliefs and practices showed that elderly people had a lower prevalence of cigarette smoking. However the elderly were more resistant to the idea of giving up smoking and were less likely than younger people to believe that their smoking was harmful. In contrast elderly people had very similar views to younger people on the harmful effects of smoking on younger people. If elderly people are to be persuaded to stop smoking, the beneficial effect upon younger people rather than the elderly themselves should be stressed.
Addiction, 2009
Aims To describe the long-term natural history of a range of potential determinants of relapse from quitting smoking. Design, setting and participants A survey of 2502 ex-smokers of varying lengths of time quit recruited as part of the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Four Country Survey (Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, United States) across five annual waves of surveying. Measurements Quitters were interviewed by telephone at varying durations of abstinence, ranging from 1 to 1472 days (about 4 years) post-quitting. Smoking-related beliefs and experiences (i.e. urges to smoke; outcome expectancies of smoking and quitting; and abstinence self-efficacy) were included in the survey. Findings Most theorized determinants of relapse changed over time in a manner theoretically associated with reduced risk of relapse, except most notably the belief that smoking controls weight, which strengthened. Change in these determinants changed at different rates: from a rapidly asymptoting log function to a less rapidly asymptoting square-root function. Conclusions Variation in patterns of change across time suggests that the relative importance of each factor to maintaining abstinence may similarly vary. Cravings or urges to smoke are predictors of relapse . Urges are relatively sudden impulses to smoke
BMC Family Practice, 2011
Background: Every year, more than 650,000 Europeans die because they smoke. Smoking is considered to be the single most preventable factor influencing health. General practitioners (GP) are encouraged to advise on smoking cessation at all suitable consultations. Unsolicited advice from GPs results in one of 40-60 smokers stopping smoking. Smoking cessation advice has traditionally been given on an individual basis. Our aim was to gain insights that may help general practitioners understand why people smoke, and why smokers stop and then remain quitting and, from this, to find fruitful approaches to the dialogue about stopping smoking. Methods: Interviews with 18 elderly smokers and ex-smokers about their smoking and decisions to smoke or quit were analysed with qualitative content analysis across narratives. A narrative perspective was applied.