Effect of the motivation program to quit smoking in Royal Thai Air Force officers with non-communicable disease risks

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to compare the outcome of a smoking cessation program based on the protection motivation theory and a brief intervention among Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) officers, with non-communicable disease (NCD) risks. Design/methodology/approach This quasi-experimental study involved sixty RTAF officers, with NCD risks. The first 30 participants were assigned to a control group and the latter 30 to an experimental group. The control group received brief advice on quitting smoking while the experimental group took part in an eight-week motivational program. The primary outcome was biochemically verified seven-day point prevalence abstinence from smoking. A measurement of carbon monoxide (CO)<8 ppm in exhaled breath was considered indicative of abstinence. Findings Most participants were non-commissioned officers, with an age range of 21–59 years and a mean age of 38.27 years (SD=10.59). No significant difference in the Fagerström test for nicotine dependence scores between control and experimental groups was observed. The proportion of the participants reporting the seven-day point prevalence abstinence verified by exhaled CO was significantly higher in the experiment group than in the control group (20.0 percent vs 3.3 percent; p<0.05). Numbers of cigarettes per day decreased from 12.87±7.23 and 10.53 ± 7.45 at the baseline to 7.23 ± 5.90 and 8.83 ± 6.13 at the end of study in experimental and control group, respectively. Originality/value This motivation-based program to quit smoking had a promising outcome in terms of smoking abstinence and smoking reduction.