Nelly Layoun1, Souheil Hallit2, Mirna Waked3, Zeina Aoun Bacha4, Isabelle Godin5, Michele Dramaix5, Pascale Salameh2. 1. Research Center in Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Clinical Research, School of Public Health, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium. nelly_layoun@hotmail.com. 2. School of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon. 3. Department of Pulmonology, St George Hospital University Medical Center; Faculty of Medicine, Balamand University, Lebanon. 4. Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Hotel-Dieu de France, Beirut, Lebanon. 5. Research Center in Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Clinical Research, School of Public Health, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: We aimed at examining quitting behaviors among Lebanese cigarette smokers in order to clarify characteristics of adults who were more likely to intend to quit smoking. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: This study was conducted between March 2014 and March 2015, involving 382 patients randomly chosen from 5 outpatient clinics in 5 hospitals in Lebanon. A standardized questionnaire was completed including socio-demographic characteristics, smoking behavior, chronic respiratory symptoms, Fagerstrom scale, Mondor scale, packaging perception, quitting behavior and readiness to quit ladder. RESULTS: 40.8% of participants reported having higher stages of readiness to quit while 33% and 7.9% of them intended to quit in 2 and 6 months later, respectively. Higher stages of readiness to quit were associated with high motivation to quit smoking (ORa=1.98; P=0.007), chronic wheezing and real quit attempt duration of ≥ 1 month (ORa=2.35, P=0.020 and ORa=2.15, P=0.003, respectively). Highly motivated smokers (ORa=1.83, P=0.040), who would have changed their favorite pack due to the graphical warnings (ORa=2.11, P=0.010) and who had past quit attempt (ORa=4.39, P<0.001) had more intention to quit in 2 months. Having past quit attempts would increase the intention to quit in 6 months by 7.48 times (ORa=7.48, P=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Significantly higher intentions to quit cigarette smoking were associated with a higher motivation and influenced by shocking images and health related warnings on tobacco boxes. We hope our results will initiate public health educational programs and interventions to surge the intention to quit cigarette smoking as the first step of quitting.
BACKGROUND: We aimed at examining quitting behaviors among Lebanese cigarette smokers in order to clarify characteristics of adults who were more likely to intend to quit smoking. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: This study was conducted between March 2014 and March 2015, involving 382 patients randomly chosen from 5 outpatient clinics in 5 hospitals in Lebanon. A standardized questionnaire was completed including socio-demographic characteristics, smoking behavior, chronic respiratory symptoms, Fagerstrom scale, Mondor scale, packaging perception, quitting behavior and readiness to quit ladder. RESULTS: 40.8% of participants reported having higher stages of readiness to quit while 33% and 7.9% of them intended to quit in 2 and 6 months later, respectively. Higher stages of readiness to quit were associated with high motivation to quit smoking (ORa=1.98; P=0.007), chronic wheezing and real quit attempt duration of ≥ 1 month (ORa=2.35, P=0.020 and ORa=2.15, P=0.003, respectively). Highly motivated smokers (ORa=1.83, P=0.040), who would have changed their favorite pack due to the graphical warnings (ORa=2.11, P=0.010) and who had past quit attempt (ORa=4.39, P<0.001) had more intention to quit in 2 months. Having past quit attempts would increase the intention to quit in 6 months by 7.48 times (ORa=7.48, P=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Significantly higher intentions to quit cigarette smoking were associated with a higher motivation and influenced by shocking images and health related warnings on tobacco boxes. We hope our results will initiate public health educational programs and interventions to surge the intention to quit cigarette smoking as the first step of quitting.
Authors: P V Asharani; Jue Hua Lau; Vanessa Ai Ling Seet; Fiona Devi; Peizhi Wang; Kumarasan Roystonn; Ying Ying Lee; Laxman Cetty; Wen Lin Teh; Swapna Verma; Yee Ming Mok; Siow Ann Chong; Mythily Subramaniam Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-02-07 Impact factor: 3.390