Abstract
BackgroundImplementing effective tobacco cessation programmes requires an understanding of the factors that influence quit attempts in a given context. In this study, we explored these factors among current tobacco users attending the outpatient department (OPD) of Dr Yusuf Dadoo Hospital, South Africa.MethodsIn a cross-sectional study involving 275 tobacco users, a researcher-administered questionnaire collected socio-demographic, clinical, tobacco use and quit attempt information. Outcomes of data analysis included the proportion of participants who made quit attempts, the motivations and barriers, and the factors significantly associated with quit attempts.ResultsThe mean age of the participants was 46.5 years. Most of them were black (61.8%), male (65.8%), and had at least one chronic disease (52.7%) – of which 55.2% had a cardiovascular disease. About 87% of participants smoked cigarettes while 10% used snuff. Most participants made a quit attempt in the past year (74%), perceived it important to quit (92.0%) and felt confident to do so (75.0%). Health concern was the most common motivation for making a quit attempt, while advice from a healthcare provider was the least. Stress and cravings were the top two barriers to make a quit attempt. In regression analysis, being married was the only factor independently associated with making a quit attempt (odds ratio [OR]: 2.13; confidence interval [CI]: 1.17–3.86, p = 0.01).ConclusionMost participants showed readiness to quit. However, healthcare professionals failed to leverage on participants’ motivations about their health to scale up the provision of quit advice to promote smoking cessation.
Highlights
IntroductionThe adverse health outcomes attributed to tobacco use are mostly because of cigarette smoking and its effects on increasing the risk of non-communicable diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancers, stroke, ischaemic heart and peripheral vascular diseases.[3]
Despite tobacco use being a major risk factor of premature morbidity and mortality[1] and a progressive tobacco control programme in South Africa, an estimated 37% and 8% of men and women, respectively, still used one form of tobacco product or the other in 2016.2The adverse health outcomes attributed to tobacco use are mostly because of cigarette smoking and its effects on increasing the risk of non-communicable diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancers, stroke, ischaemic heart and peripheral vascular diseases.[3]Quitting tobacco use at any stage is beneficial and associated with a reversal or slowing down of the pathological process.[4]
The finding that advice from healthcare providers was the least common motivation to make a quit attempt is worrisome given that tobacco use is an established risk for noncommunicable diseases,[17,18,19] and half of the participants with a chronic disease in this study had a cardiovascular diseases (CVD)
Summary
The adverse health outcomes attributed to tobacco use are mostly because of cigarette smoking and its effects on increasing the risk of non-communicable diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancers, stroke, ischaemic heart and peripheral vascular diseases.[3]. Quitting tobacco use at any stage is beneficial and associated with a reversal or slowing down of the pathological process.[4] tobacco use cessation is challenging – of about 72% of adult smokers who would like to quit, only 24% would try and less than 10% will succeed in each attempt, cumulatively resulting in a 50% lifetime chance of quitting.[5] of 56% of smokeless tobacco (SLT) users who desire to stop, up to 42% will be unable to do so.[6] These low quit rates are attributed to the addictive nature of nicotine and the difficulties in coping with nicotine withdrawal symptoms.
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Schedule a callMore From: South African family practice : official journal of the South African Academy of Family Practice/Primary Care
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