Abstract
The European Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) was introduced in 2016 in an effort to decrease prevalence of smoking and increase cessation in the European Union (EU). This study aimed to explore quitting behaviours, motivation, reasons and perceptions about quitting, as well as predictors (reported before the TPD implementation) associated with post-TPD quit status. A cohort study was conducted involving adult smokers from six EU countries (n = 3195). Data collection occurred pre-(Wave 1; 2016) and post-(Wave 2; 2018) TPD implementation. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses of weighted data were conducted. Within this cohort sample, 415 (13.0%) respondents reported quitting at Wave 2. Predictors of quitting were moderate or high education, fewer cigarettes smoked per day at baseline, a past quit attempt, lower level of perceived addiction, plans for quitting and the presence of a smoking-related comorbidity. Health concerns, price of cigarettes and being a good example for children were among the most important reasons that predicted being a quitter at Wave 2. Our findings show that the factors influencing decisions about quitting may be shared among European countries. European policy and the revised version of TPD could emphasise these factors through health warnings and/or campaigns and other policies.
Highlights
IntroductionHighlights that increasing quit attempts and long-term cessation rates are critical to reducing the prevalence of smoking [2]
Smoking and other forms of tobacco consumption are considered the single most important cause of preventable morbidity and premature mortality worldwide, including in the European Union (EU) [1].The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC)highlights that increasing quit attempts and long-term cessation rates are critical to reducing the prevalence of smoking [2]
The analytic sample consisted of 3195 adult cigarette smokers recruited at Wave 1 and successfully followed up at Wave 2
Summary
Highlights that increasing quit attempts and long-term cessation rates are critical to reducing the prevalence of smoking [2]. WHO FCTC Article 14 calls upon its Parties to take effective measures to promote cessation of tobacco use and adequate treatment for tobacco dependence. Guidelines for the implementation of Article 14 include a number of evidence-based strategies, such as internet support, quitlines, healthcare professionals’ brief advice, behavioural counselling by trained specialists and use of cessation medications [3]. Research and tobacco dependence treatment guidelines have highlighted the effectiveness of evidence-based tobacco treatment delivery (behavioural counselling and pharmacotherapy) to increase long-term abstinence from smoking [4,5,6], while physicians’ advice and support play an important role in increasing cessation rates [7,8]. Results from recent studies on the key facilitators of quitting identified, among others, motivation to quit [9], smoking-related health concerns [10,11], concerns about the effects of smoking to others and the money spent on tobacco products [12]
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