The mid-term effect of grandchildren and children motivation to quit rates of smokers

Abstract

We aimed to investigate the mid-term quit rates of smokers who were motivated to quit smoking directly by their children or grandchildren. Thousand one hundred and forty-eight smokers who had attended to the Ondokuz Mayis University smoking cessation clinic were investigated for their initial motivation for quit smoking. Among them 80 participants were accepted as study group who claimed that their primary motivation for smoking cessation was their children or grandchildren’s wish to see them as non-smokers. 200 other smokers were accepted as control group randomly. An individualized therapy cessation technique was selected for each participant (combination of behavioral counseling, nicotine replacement therapy, and/or pharmacotherapy). All of the participants in both groups attended a standard quittance program. The smoking statuses of both groups were investigated at the end of 1 st and 3 rd month after. Although there was no difference between the sociodemographic and smoking features of the both groups the study group had a better quit rate after 1 st (45% versus 35%) and 3 rd (37% versus 29%) month compared to control group (p<0.001 respectively). To get motivation from grandchildren or children had an independent effect on cessation (O.R=1.094, 95%CI, p<0.001). The smokers who were motivated to quit by their children or grandchildren may have an increased chance of quittance.