OBJECTIVES: To investigate the occurrence, determinants and reported success of unplanned and planned attempts to quit smoking, and sources of support used in these attempts. DESIGN: Cross-sectional questionnaire survey of 3512 current and ex-smokers. SETTING: Twenty-four general practices in Nottinghamshire, UK. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals who reported making a quit attempt within the last 6 months. MEASUREMENTS: Occurrence, triggers for, support used and success of planned and unplanned quit attempts. RESULTS: A total of 1805 (51.4%) participants returned completed questionnaires, reporting 394 quit attempts made within the previous 6 months of which 37% were unplanned. Males were significantly more likely to make an unplanned quit attempt [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.60, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-2.46], but the occurrence of unplanned quit attempts did not differ significantly by socio-economic group or amount smoked. The most common triggers for unplanned quit attempts were advice from a general practitioner or health professional (27.9%) and health problems (24.5%). 5.4% and 4.1% of unplanned quit attempts used National Health Service cessation services on a one to one and group basis, respectively, and more than half (51.7%) were made without any support. Nevertheless, unplanned attempts were more likely to be reported to be successful (adjusted OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.23-3.27, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Unplanned quit attempts are common among smokers in all socio-demographic groups, are triggered commonly by advice from a health professional and are more likely to succeed; however, the majority of these unplanned attempts are unsupported. It is important to develop methods of providing behavioural and/or pharmacological support for these attempts, and determine whether these increase cessation rates still further.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the occurrence, determinants and reported success of unplanned and planned attempts to quit smoking, and sources of support used in these attempts. DESIGN: Cross-sectional questionnaire survey of 3512 current and ex-smokers. SETTING: Twenty-four general practices in Nottinghamshire, UK. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals who reported making a quit attempt within the last 6 months. MEASUREMENTS: Occurrence, triggers for, support used and success of planned and unplanned quit attempts. RESULTS: A total of 1805 (51.4%) participants returned completed questionnaires, reporting 394 quit attempts made within the previous 6 months of which 37% were unplanned. Males were significantly more likely to make an unplanned quit attempt [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.60, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-2.46], but the occurrence of unplanned quit attempts did not differ significantly by socio-economic group or amount smoked. The most common triggers for unplanned quit attempts were advice from a general practitioner or health professional (27.9%) and health problems (24.5%). 5.4% and 4.1% of unplanned quit attempts used National Health Service cessation services on a one to one and group basis, respectively, and more than half (51.7%) were made without any support. Nevertheless, unplanned attempts were more likely to be reported to be successful (adjusted OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.23-3.27, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Unplanned quit attempts are common among smokers in all socio-demographic groups, are triggered commonly by advice from a health professional and are more likely to succeed; however, the majority of these unplanned attempts are unsupported. It is important to develop methods of providing behavioural and/or pharmacological support for these attempts, and determine whether these increase cessation rates still further.
Authors: Jae Cooper; Ron Borland; Hua-Hie Yong; Ann McNeill; Rachael L Murray; Richard J O'Connor; K Michael Cummings Journal: Nicotine Tob Res Date: 2010-10 Impact factor: 4.244
Authors: Bianca F Jardin; Karen L Cropsey; Amy E Wahlquist; Kevin M Gray; Gerard A Silvestri; K Michael Cummings; Matthew J Carpenter Journal: Nicotine Tob Res Date: 2014-03-07 Impact factor: 4.244
Authors: Pek Kei Im; Ann McNeill; Mary E Thompson; Geoffrey T Fong; Steve Xu; Anne C K Quah; Yuan Jiang; Lion Shahab Journal: Tob Control Date: 2015-04-17 Impact factor: 7.552