Counterconditioning Research Articles

Exploring individual, social and environmental factors related to physical activity: a network analysis

ObjectivesInsufficient physical activity (PA) has long been a global health issue, and a number of studies have explored correlates of PA to identify the mechanisms underlying inactive lifestyles. In the...

Investigating the Factors Related to the Reduction of Salt Consumption in Women in Southern Iran: Application of ،ranstheoretical Model

Introduction: Reducing salt consumption in population is one of the easiest, most efficient and cost-effective ways to reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases. The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the factors related to the reduction of salt consumption using transtheoretical model among women in southern Iran.
 Methods: This was a cross-sectional study (descriptive-analytical) conducted from November 2022 to February 2023 on women of 18-59 who visited comprehensive health centers in Bastak city. A total number of 452 subjects were selected using convenient sampling method. Data were collected using a questionnaire with three sections: demographic information, a researcher-made questionnaire based on transtheoretical model constructs, and salt consumption reduction questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis tests, Pearson's correlation and regression analysis with SPSS software (v. 22).
 Results: The results showed that participants were between 18 and52 with a mean of 35/51±10/13. 23/5% of the participants were in pre-contemplation stage, 21/7% in the contemplation stage, 20/8% in preparation stage, 11/3% in action stage, and 22/8% in maintenance stage. Pearson correlation analysis results indicated that there were significant positive relationships between cognitive processes (r= 0/44, p<0/01), behavioral processes (r= 0/54, p<0/01), self-efficacy (r=0/43, p<0/01) , decision balance (r= 0/37, p<0/01), and salt consumption reduction behavior; but, there was a significant negative correlation between temptation and salt consumption reduction behavior (r=-0.34, p<0/01). Moreover, regression analysis results revealed that age, counter conditioning, self-efficacy, raising awareness, decision balance, helping relationships, and temptation can predict 38/1% of the total variance in salt consumption reduction behavior (p<0/05).
 Conclusion: According to the findings, self-efficacy, temptation, cognitive and behavioral change processes, and advantages and disadvantages of salt reduction play a major role in salt consumption reduction behavior. It is suggested that these variables be taken into account in developing and implementing educational interventions.

The effectiveness of a masked counterconditioning approach using continuous flash suppression to alleviate body dissatisfaction in women with high body image concerns

Background and objectivesResearch that used counterconditioning (CC) to reduce women's negative body image has led to mixed results. One explanation could be that the negative responses elicited by own body pictures hinder the effectiveness of CC procedures in adjusting overly negative attitudes towards the own body. In this study we therefore tried to prevent the impact of negative responses by limiting women's perceptual awareness of the own body pictures during the CC procedure. MethodsWomen with a negative body image were randomly assigned to an experimental (n = 75) or control (n = 71) condition. In the experimental condition, participants’ masked body pictures were systematically followed by visible social approval cues (i.e., smiling faces), whereas neutral body-unrelated control pictures were followed by a blank screen. In the control condition, both own body and control pictures were followed by a blank screen. ResultsParticipants in the experimental condition did not report a more positive evaluation of the own body (pictures) after CC than participants in the control condition. Also, the strength of automatic affective body evaluations as indexed by a single-target Implicit Association Test did not differ between conditions. LimitationsMany participants did not remain fully unaware of their body pictures during conditioning. ConclusionsThe findings provided no support for the idea that CC with masked own body pictures can be used in women with body dissatisfaction to improve their body image.

Evaluating the effects of counterconditioning, novelty-facilitated, and standard extinction on the spontaneous recovery of threat expectancy and conditioned stimulus valence.

Extinction training has proved effective to diminish the expectancy of the aversive unconditioned stimulus (US). However, the negative valence of the conditioned stimulus (CS) may still stay intact. In fact, several studies have suggested that the CS negative valence may be a factor that promotes the return of fear. Our study focuses on the role of changes in the CS valence as a potential mechanism to reduce the spontaneous recovery of threat expectancies. To do that, we evaluated counterconditioning (CC), a technique aimed to reduce the CS negative valence by paring it with a positive stimulus and compared its efficacy to that of a novelty-facilitated extinction (NFE) and a standard extinction interventions. Using a 2-day protocol, participants first learned the relationship between a figure and an aversive sound, using a differential conditioning paradigm, and were then randomly assigned to one of three different groups. For the CC group, CS+ or cue A was paired with a positive US. The standard extinction group was exposed to cue A alone. For a third NFE group, cue A was followed by a neutral US. Finally, on the second day, spontaneous recovery was tested. Our findings did not provide evidence to suggest that CC could be more effective to prevent or reduce the return of threat expectancies or influence valence ratings when compared with NFE and standard extinction.

Efficacy of open-label counterconditioning for reducing nocebo effects on pressure pain.

Nocebo effects can adversely affect the experience of physical symptoms, such as pain and itch. Nocebo effects on itch and pain have shown to be induced by conditioning with thermal heat stimuli and reduced by counterconditioning. However, open-label counterconditioning, in which participants are informed about the placebo content of the treatment, has not been investigated, while this can be highly relevant for clinical practice. Furthermore, (open-label) conditioning and counterconditioning has not been investigated for pain modalities relevant to musculoskeletal disorders, such as pressure pain. In a randomized controlled trial, we investigated in 110 healthy female participants whether nocebo effects on pressure pain combined with open-label verbal suggestions can be (1) induced via conditioning and (2) reduced via counterconditioning. Participants were allocated to either a nocebo- or sham-conditioning group. Next, the nocebo group was allocated to either counterconditioning, extinction or continued nocebo conditioning; sham conditioning was followed by placebo conditioning. Nocebo effects were significantly larger after nocebo conditioning than sham conditioning (d=1.27). Subsequently, a larger reduction of the nocebo effect was found after counterconditioning than after extinction (d=1.02) and continued nocebo conditioning (d=1.66), with effects similar to placebo conditioning (following sham conditioning). These results show that (counter)conditioning combined with open-label suggestions can modulate nocebo effects on pressure pain, which provides promise in designing learning-based treatments to reduce nocebo effects in patients with chronic pain disorders, particularly for musculoskeletal disorders. Few studies have investigated the efficacy counterconditioning to reduce nocebo effects. Whereas typically deceptive procedures are used, these are not ethically appropriate for use in clinical practice. The current study demonstrates that open-label counterconditioning in a pain modality relevant for many chronic pain conditions may be a promising new strategy for reducing nocebo effects in a non-deceptive and ethical manner, which provides promise in designing learning-based treatments to reduce nocebo effects in patients with chronic pain disorders.

Traffic Signalizing Application at Unsignalized Intersection Applying Vissim Software Microsimulation

An intersection is a meeting point of several road sections that have potential traffic conflicts. Each of these may become the intersection of opposite traffic flows. Therefore, it is critical to have the best traffic control to avoid potential collisions among vehicles. Simpang Jembatan 5 Kalimalang is an unsignalized-intersection with four legs—one of which is a bridge. The absence of traffic control in the intersection may lead to many traffic conflicts. This study aims to determine the best traffic control to increase safety in Simpang Jembatan 5 Kalimalang. It was a case study with a micro-simulation method of analysis. The data were analyzed using VISSIM and SSAM. VISSIM was used to analyze the performance of the existing intersection condition in Simpang Jembatan 5 and to analyze the counter condition for the recommendation. Meanwhile, SSAM was employed to analyze traffic conflict in the intersection. The result of the study revealed that the alternative counter condition of the intersection in terms of replenishment of two-phased-APPIL with 106 seconds of cycle time was effective in reducing 24% of traffic conflict; in addition, the delay value was 12.4 indicating that the intersection service level was down to B level. The reduction of traffic conflict and intersection service implied that the safety level in Simpang Jembatan 5 Kalimalang increased.

Stages of dairy product consumption among Iranian female high school students based on transtheoretical model: The case of osteoporosis prevention.

Background: As nutritional needs increase in adolescence, dairy consumption can play a key role in health and disease prevention; however, unfortunately, inadequate consumption of milk and dairy products has often been reported in adolescents. Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between decisional balance, self-efficacy, and the processes of change with the stages of change for dairy consumption in female high school students in Shaft county located in the west of Gilan Province, Iran. Methods: A total of 385 female high school students in Shaft County were studied through the census method in 2019. The data collection instrument was a valid and reliable questionnaire consisting of demographic information, stages of change and items of transtheoretical model constructs including the processes of change (cognitive process: consciousness-raising, dramatic relief, self-reevaluation, environmental reevaluation, and social liberation; behavioral process: self-liberation, counter conditioning, reinforcement management, stimulus control and helping relationships), decisional balance and self-efficacy. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21 software. Results: A total of 208 (54%), 53 (13.8%), 56 (14.5%), 32 (8.3%) and 36 (9.4%) students were in the pre-contemplate, contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance stages, respectively. As the subjects progressed through the stage of change for dairy consumption, an increase in the mean score of self-efficacy, decisional balance, and processes of change was observed (P < 0.01). Conclusion: The constructs of the transtheoretical model should be considered in designing educational interventions to promote dairy consumption with regard to the stage of change for dairy consumption in the subjects.

Rewarded Extinction Increases Amygdalar Connectivity and Stabilizes Long-Term Memory Traces in the vmPFC.

Neurobiological evidence in rodents indicates that threat extinction incorporates reward neurocircuitry. Consequently, incorporating reward associations with an extinction memory may be an effective strategy to persistently attenuate threat responses. Moreover, while there is considerable research on the short-term effects of extinction strategies in humans, the long-term effects of extinction are rarely considered. In a within-subjects fMRI study with both female and male participants, we compared counterconditioning (CC; a form of rewarded-extinction) to standard extinction at recent (24 h) and remote (approximately one month) retrieval tests. Relative to standard extinction, rewarded extinction diminished 24-h relapse of arousal and threat expectancy, and reduced activity in brain regions associated with the appraisal and expression of threat (e.g., thalamus, insula, periaqueductal gray). The retrieval of reward-associated extinction memory was accompanied by functional connectivity between the amygdala and the ventral striatum, whereas the retrieval of standard-extinction memories was associated with connectivity between the amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC). One month later, the retrieval of both standard-extinction and rewarded-extinction was associated with amygdala-vmPFC connectivity. However, only rewarded extinction created a stable memory trace in the vmPFC, identified through overlapping multivariate patterns of fMRI activity from extinction to 24-h and one-month retrieval. These findings provide new evidence that reward may generate a more stable and enduring memory trace of attenuated threat in humans.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Prevalent treatments for pathologic fear and anxiety are based on the principles of Pavlovian extinction. Unfortunately, extinction forms weak memories that only temporarily inhibit the retrieval of threat associations. Thus, to increase the translational relevance of extinction research, it is critical to investigate whether extinction can be augmented to form a more enduring memory, especially after long intervals. Here, we used a multiday fMRI paradigm in humans to compare the short-term and long-term neurobehavioral effects of aversive-to-appetitive counterconditioning (CC), a form of augmented extinction. Our results provide novel evidence that including an appetitive stimulus during extinction can reduce short-term threat relapse and stabilize the memory trace of extinction in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), for at least one month after learning.

Exploring the Contextual Renewal of Conditioned Attitudes After Counterconditioning

Exploring the Contextual Renewal of Conditioned Attitudes After Counterconditioning

The effects of aversive-to-appetitive counterconditioning on implicit and explicit fear memory.

Counterconditioning (CC) is a form of retroactive interference that inhibits expression of learned behavior. But similar to extinction, CC can be a fairly weak and impermanent form of interference, and the original behavior is prone to relapse. Research on CC is limited, especially in humans, but prior studies suggest it is more effective than extinction at modifying some behaviors (e.g., preference or valence ratings) than others (e.g., physiological arousal). Here, we used a within-subjects design to compare the effects of aversive-to-appetitive CC versus standard extinction on two separate tests of long-term memory in human adults: implicit physiological arousal and explicit episodic memory. Participants underwent Pavlovian fear conditioning to two semantic categories (animals, tools) paired with an electric shock. Conditioned stimuli (i.e., category exemplars) from one category were then extinguished, while stimuli from the other category were paired with a positive outcome. Participants returned 24-h later for a test of skin conductance responses (SCR) to the conditioned exemplars, as well as a surprise recognition memory test for stimuli encoded the previous day. Results showed reduced SCRs at a test for unique stimuli from a category that had undergone CC, relative to stimuli from a category that had undergone standard extinction. Additionally, participants selectively remembered more stimuli encoded during CC than extinction. These results provide new evidence that aversive-to-appetitive CC, as compared to extinction, strengthens memory for items directly associated with a positive outcome, which may provide stronger retrieval competition against a fear memory at test to help diminish fear relapse.

Single-response appetitive Pavlovian to instrumental transfer is suppressed by aversive counter-conditioning.

Environmental stimuli, when paired with reward, can influence behaviour in maladaptive ways, for example, by encouraging overeating or addiction. Such behaviour can be sensitive to reward value manipulations, under circumscribed conditions, but whether reward-seeking is also sensitive to stimulus value manipulations remains unclear. Thus, the current experiment investigated whether reducing the hedonic value of a reward-paired stimulus would reduce reward-seeking behaviour. In total, 36 participants successfully completed a single-response Pavlovian-instrumental transfer (PIT) task with a counter-conditioning procedure. The Pavlovian phase associated three conditioned stimuli (CSs) with money at 100%, 50%, or 0% contingency. Counter-conditioning then followed for the experimental group, who saw the 100% CS paired with unpleasant pictures, while the control group saw only neutral images. Instrumental training required participants to learn a button-pressing response to win money. The transfer phase contrasted instrumental responding during baseline and CS presentation. Both experimental and control groups liked the 100% CS more than the other CSs after Pavlovian training, but counter-conditioning reduced this 100% CS liking. In transfer, the experimental group showed an abolition of appetitive PIT, while the control group showed maintenance of appetitive PIT. However, this group difference was only evident in response vigour, not response initiation. In summary, CS hedonic value influences cue-potentiated instrumental responding. More specifically, hedonic value of a reward-paired cue influences the vigour of instrumental responses, but not the decision to initiate a response. These data may have relevance to smoking cessation policies, where the introduction of health warnings may be viewed as a real-world example of counter conditioning.

Awareness of the Body in Mental Health Care

In mental health care, the body takes an undeserved, modest place. It is precisely the body that you can use you to test the beliefs of patients on functionality. Dysfunctional beliefs lead to dysfunctional emotions and corresponding response representations in the body. This is entirely in line with the therapeutic elaboration of Lang’s emotion theory. That is, linking existing stimulus representations to incompatible response and meaning representations. This practical paper introduces readers to body-oriented counter conditioning techniques and how to apply the principles of counter conditioning in various anxiety and mood disorders. A report is done from a short mindfulness group training for cardiology patients with anxiety and mood complaints.

Physical Activity Stage of Change and Its Related Factors in Secondary School Students of Sarableh City: A Perspective from Iran.

BACKGROUND:Physical activity is highly beneficial to health. These benefits are so important and indispensable for adolescents.AIM:The aim of this study was to investigate the Physical activity stage of change and its related factors in the male secondary School students of Sarableh city.MATERIAL AND METHODS:In a cross-sectional study, 261 male secondary School students possessing the eligibility criteria were selected using the simple random sampling technique. After giving their informed consent, the students filled the stage of change questionnaire and the structures of the transtheoretical model in a self-reporting manner. Using SPSS.21, the data were analysed through One-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation test with a 0.05 level of significance.RESULTS:The mean age of the students was 16.16±0.89 years. According to the stage of change, 26.8 per cent (n = 70) were in preaction stages (precontemplation, contemplation, and preparation) and 73.2 per cent (n = 191) were in action and maintenance stages. The one-way ANOVA revealed that awareness is raising, self-reevaluation, counter conditioning and reinforcing management differed significantly across stages (P < 0.05). However, this difference is not significant for other cognitive and behavioural processes (P > 0.05). According to the findings, increase in the self-efficacy, pros and decrease in cons was found by students’ progress in the Physical activity stage of change (P < 0.05).CONCLUSION:Self-efficacy and processes of change are warranted when designing Physical activity stage interventions in the adolescents.

Mood Regulation Focused CBT Based on Memory Reconsolidation, Reduced Suicidal Ideation and Depression in Youth in a Randomised Controlled Study.

Suicide attempts and suicidal ideation in adolescence are considered to be related to suicide and psychiatric adversity later in life. Secondary prevention by improving the treatment of suicidal youth is a distinct possibility. In this study, treatment with a systematised mood-regulation focused cognitive behavioural therapy (MR-CBT) (n = 15) was compared with treatment as usual (TAU) (n = 12) in a group of depressed adolescents in a clinical setting. MR-CBT focuses on mood regulation by means of counter conditioning with memory reconsolidation being the proposed mechanism of change. Subjects practice keeping emotionally positive memories to diminish the emotional impact of negative memories. Symptoms of depression were tested with a short version of the Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ), and wellbeing with the World Health Organization 5 Wellbeing Index (WHO-5). Suicidal events were rated according to the clinical interview Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). Suicidal events at the end of treatment were significantly reduced in the MR-CBT group, but not in the TAU group. Depression and wellbeing improved significantly in both treatment groups. While far from conclusive, the results are encouraging enough to suggest that further studies should be undertaken to examine whether psychotherapy focusing on mood regulation for young individuals at risk might enhance secondary prevention of suicide.

To σύνδρομο της δερματίτιδας από λείξη των άκρων στο σκύλο

Canine acrai lick dermatitis is a complicated and challenging syndrome occurring in companion animal dermatology. Skin lesions are caused by intense and prolonged licking of a localized area, usually on the lower parts of the limbs that progressively may result in plaque or nodule formation with alopecia, erythema, hyperpigmentation, exudation,erosion and ulceration. Aerai lick dermatitis develops more often in male dogs of large breeds and has a multifactorial aetiology. The underlying causes may be broadly separated into organic (e.g., pruritic skin diseases, painful conditions) and psychogenic. The former subset includes mainly deep bacterial pyoderma, atopic dermatitis, food allergy, foreign bodies, sensory neuropathies and painful bone and articular diseases. The psychogenic subset may be either a primary (e.g., the result of long-standing anxiety, boredom, attention-seeking or stereotypic behavior) or a psychosomatic behavioural abnormality.Regardless of the aetiology and the primary role it may play, the most common complication in the psychogenic aerai lick dermatitis is actually the deep bacterial pyoderma observed in the majority of the cases. Diagnosis of the disorder is reached after exclusion of similar-looking skin diseases, such as ringworm kerion, demodicosis, leishmaniosis, sterile granulomas and neoplasia. An extensive list of diagnostic tests is necessary to identify the underlying cause(s) and includes cytological examination, bacterial culture and antibiotic susceptibility testing, histopathological examination, imaging of the affected area and hypoallergenic food trial. A prerequisite to diagnosing the psychogenic subset of the disease is to rule-out potential organic causes, coupled with persistence of skin licking, despite resolution of deep bacterial pyoderma.Regardless of the underlying cause, therapy should always include mechanical restrain, as well as the long-term topical and systemic use of antimicrobials that ideally should be selected based on the results of antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Specific treatment in also warranted to resolve potential organic causes of the syndrome, whereas, management of its psychogenic subset should be based on avoidance of the causative and triggering factors, desensitization and counter conditioning, along with the administration of psychotropic medication. Alternative therapeutic modalities, considered supplementary or employed when everything else fails, may include topical glucocorticoids, dimethyl sulfoxide, capsaicin or tacrolimus, as well as cryosurgery, laser surgery, acupuncture or radiation therapy.

Effect of Educational Program, Based on PRECEDE and Trans-Theoretical Models, on Preventing Decline in Regular Physical Activity and Improving it among Students.

Adolescents especially middle school girls do not follow 60 min of regular physical activity (RPA), recommended by WHO, and endure physical activity decline. Using theory-based interventional program, considering the age of decline in RPA, seems to be effective. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of educational program, based on PRECEDE and Trans-Theoretical models, on preventing decline in RPA and improving it among 7th grade girl students. Randomized controlled trial. This study was conducted on 7th grade girl students in Hamadan, west of Iran from 2015-16. Participants were divided into intervention (N=179) and control (N=165) groups by random assignment. Physical activity questionnaire for adolescents and the model-based questionnaire were used before and after intervention. Intervention included two months education and six months follow up. The effects of intervention were determined by statistical test and analysis of covariance using SPSS version 16. The higher change in the mean scores was observed in self-efficacy (0.86), counter condition (0.66) and helping relationship (0.57) in the intervention group (P≤0.001). In addition, a significant difference (P ≤0.001) was observed between the two groups 6 months after the intervention in all constructs of model. The mean score of doing physical activity in the intervention group increased from 2.50 to 3.17 that it was differed significantly from the control group (P≤0.001). CONCLUSIONS: School based intervention using PRECEDE and Trans-Theoretical models might prevent girl students' RPA decline and improve their RPA.

Commentary: Rewriting the Valuation and Salience of Alcohol-Related Stimuli via Memory Reconsolidation

Commentary: Rewriting the Valuation and Salience of Alcohol-Related Stimuli via Memory Reconsolidation

Effect of a Balanced Low-Calorie Diet With or Without Nutrition Education on Weight Loss and Processes of Behavior Change Among Healthy Obese Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: The use of weight-loss dieting has always been overemphasized as the first modality to treat obesity. Success in weight loss is considered a major problem in obese individuals. The processes of behavior change have been used to facilitate intervention promoting change. Only a minority of studies have employed this construct for weight loss. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of a balanced low-calorie diet with or without nutrition education on the weight loss and processes of change among obese women. Patients and Methods: In a randomized clinical trial, 90 apparently healthy obese women age 18 - 50 with body mass index (BMI) of 30 - 40 kg/m2 were recruited from the nutrition clinic in Ardabil, located in the northwest of Iran. Participants were assigned randomly to receive a balanced low-calorie diet with or without nutrition education. Participants completed a processes of change questionnaire at baseline and at three and six months after intervention. A generalized linear model repeated measures analysis of variances was used to assess the time effect as well as the interaction between the time and the group effect. Results: Significant differences were found in the time effect for weight (F = 12.64, df = 2, P < 0.001), BMI (F = 10.90, df = 2, P = 0.001), andcounterconditioning (F = 22.82, df = 2, P < 0.001), and helping relationships (F = 5.47, df = 2, P = 0.006), reinforcement management (F = 3.65, df = 2, P = 0.03), self-liberation (F = 5.05, df = 2, P = 0.008), stimulus control (F = 12.12, df = 2, P < 0.001), and substance abuse subscales (F = 6.72, df = 2, P = 0.002). Significant differences were shown in interaction time and group effect for weight (F = 5.69, df = 2, P = 0.011), BMI (F = 4.91, df = 2, P = 0.018) and counterconditioning (F = 5.11, df = 2, P = 0.008) and stimulus control (F = 5.50, df = 2, P = 0.006) subscales. Conclusions: The findings support the use of nutrition education for more weight loss and improvement in the counter conditioning and stimulus control subscales among obese women attending the nutrition clinic. It seems that nutrition education should be considered important in effective weight-loss interventions. Keywords: Low Calorie Diet; Nutrition Guidelines; Psychological Adaptation; Weight Loss

Early search termination for fast motion estimation

This paper proposes a novel method for early termination of a motion search. It first introduces an estimator of the sum of absolute difference (SAD) between the current block and a search point. After analyzing the SAD estimator, it proposes the SAD condition to decide whether the current search point is around a minimum point or not. The counter condition is used to evaluate the current search point as an early search termination cue. After the current search point is considered as a minimum point, the search is stopped immediately. The proposed algorithm can easily be combined with most existing fast motion estimation algorithms to further reduce computational cost. While previous thresholding techniques have focused on the correlation of SAD values between a current block and its neighboring blocks, the proposed algorithm studies its own characteristics to predict the threshold. Hence, the proposed termination scheme can complement the previous early search termination techniques by merging the termination methods together, in order to further reduce computational cost. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm successfully reduces the computational cost by combining the previous early search termination techniques.

Exploring Quitting Smoking Behavior Among Royal Thai Navy Personnel With the Transtheoretical Model

Quitting smoking is clearly important for health and it is worthwhile attempting to gain a better understanding of factors that may help or hinder the process. The purpose of this study was to explore smoking cessation behavior among RTN personnel with the Transtheoretical Model. A multi-stage random sampling was employed to obtain the sample of 553 RTN personnel who had quitting smoking experiences for at least 24hours in the past year. Data were used to analyze the predictors by logistic regression analyses. The main findings were: (1) 41.6% were in pre-contemplation, 13.2% were in contemplation, 19.3% were in preparation, 24.1% were in action 2.4% were in maintenance.(2) different age, education and marital status groups had no significantly different in quitting smoking. (3) Length of Past Quit Attempt 1.05 (95% CI =1.04-1.06), Family Support 1.51 (95% CI = 1.06-2.15), Conscious Raising 1.5 (95% CI =1.06-2.15), Social Liberation .81 (95% CI =.73-.90), Self-reevaluation .84 (95% CI =.0.75-0.94), Counter Conditioning 1.15 (95% CI=1.03-1.29) were predictive factors of quitting smoking among the RTN personnel and the best equation of logistic regression for explaining 56.5% of the variance in quitting smoking. This study provides further evidence in designing interventions, the stage of change needs to be assessed prior to application of intervention programs in order to increase and maintain quitting smoking behavior.