Smoking Cessation Support Group Research Articles

A multicenter prospective cohort study on the effect of smoking cessation on periodontal therapies in Japan.

Few prospective studies have reported the effects of periodontal therapy on patients who attempted to quit smoking. This study aimed to assess how smoking cessation affects periodontal therapy. Twenty-five smokers with periodontitis were investigated by dividing them into two groups, a smoking cessation support group and a continued smoking group. Those in the support group received counseling and nicotine replacement therapy, followed by periodontal treatment conducted by dentists who had completed an e-learning course on smoking cessation. Clinical parameters were measured at baseline, 3, and 6 months. Most clinical parameters improved for those in the smoking cessation support group. There were no significant improvements in bleeding on probing (BOP) or the number of severe periodontal disease sites in the continued smoking group. Probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment levels (CAL) at sites that received scaling and root planing (SRP) significantly improved in all subjects. BOP did not improve at reevaluation in the smoking relapse subgroup. Patients in the smoking cessation support program led by dental professionals showed more improvement in BOP than those in the continued smoking group.

Evaluation of Patients in a Smoking Cessation Support Group Using the Nursing Outcomes Classification.

To evaluate patients in a smoking cessation support group using the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC). Prospective observational cohort study conducted with 21 patients participating in a smoking cessation support group. Data were collected using an instrument consisting of 2 NOC outcomes and 20 indicators, applied during each of the six support group meetings. The two NOC outcomes, Smoking Cessation Behavior (1625) and Substance Withdrawal Severity (2108), showed statistically significant differences over time in many of their indicators. The NOC outcomes demonstrated the clinical evolution and behavioral improvement of patients during the smoking cessation process. The findings highlight important elements of the evaluation of behavioral change and severity of withdrawal symptoms.

Tweets are not always supportive of patients with mental disorders

Introduction: The Internet and the social media offer great potential for empowering patients, who can obtain updated information, peer support, and Internet-based treatment [1-3]. However, initial research and feedback from some patients have suggested that it is unclear to what degree the social media, including Twitter, overall are beneficial to patients [4, 5]. We therefore examined to what degree tweet content could be perceived of as negative or non-supportive of various disorders. Methods: We used the Twitter search engine to sample 150 random tweets containing either #schizophrenia, #bipolar, or #breastcancer. We classified the tweets as supportive, non-supportive or as a misuse of the disease term. As we examined the tweets, we became particularly interested in their affective content, thinking that this was of importance to how patients would react to the tweets. We therefore sampled 1000 random tweets relating to the same three disorders, and in addition, 1000 random tweets including #depression, #HIV, #AIDS, #COPD, #diabetes, and #Alzheimer, respectively (in total 9000 tweets). We subsequently used the computer program LIWC [6] to analyze the tweets. We focused specifically on the affective categories of ‘negative emotion’, ‘positive emotion’, ‘anxiety,’ and ‘sadness’. Results: Nearly all of the breast cancer tweets were supportive, while a majority of the tweets on schizophrenia and bipolar disorder were non-supportive or in the misuse of term category. Interestingly, the tweets including the terms #depression and #bipolar ranked highest in the categories of ‘negative emotion’, ‘anxiety’, and ‘sadness’, with #schizophrenia in third (‘anxiety’) and fourth place (‘sadness’ and ‘negative emotion’). #AIDS came in third for ‘negative emotion’ and diabetes third for ‘sadness’. For the ‘positive emotion’ category, #breast cancer ranked highest, followed by #depression, #HIV, and #bipolar, suggesting that there are also many tweets with positive affective content related to depression and bipolar disorder. Discussion, limitations, and lessons learned: While this is an initial, relatively small study, it suggests that social media such as Twitter may not consistently be a source of support or comfort to all patient groups, and patients and clinicians should be aware of this.

Assessment of factors related to smokers' adherence to a short-term support group for smoking cessation: a longitudinal study in a developing country.

The aim of this study was to determine which individual characteristics of smokers are associated with their adherence to a support group for smoking cessation. Smokers from Porto Alegre, Brazil, were invited to participate in a support group for smoking cessation consisting of four weekly sessions. Demographic data, smoking history, presence of tobacco-related diseases, severity of nicotine dependence, stage of motivation, and symptoms of anxiety and depression were evaluated at baseline. Adherence was defined as attendance at group sessions and was measured at the second and fourth sessions of the program. The study recruited 167 smokers who attended the first meeting and met criteria for admission to the study. One hundred and two of the participants returned to the second session and only 55 of those who attended the first meeting completed the four-week program. For immediate adherence (second session), adult smokers over the age of 35 were more likely to adhere to the treatment (p = 0.004), whereas smoking higher numbers of cigarettes per day was associated with lower adherence to attendance at group meetings (p = 0.031). For final adherence (fourth session), only minimal level symptoms of anxiety were associated with a higher likelihood of adherence (p = 0.02). Older smokers, those who smoked fewer cigarettes per day, and those with lower levels of anxiety exhibited higher rates of adherence to a smoking cessation support group.

Existential multiplicity and the late‐modern smoker: negotiating multiple identities in a support group for smoking cessation

To examine identity work of smokers attempting to quit, we undertook participant observation at an Israeli cessation support group. Grounded theory and thematic analysis of group dialogue permitted identification of recurring themes and the presentation of illustrative vignettes. We found that, rather than the linear, goal-oriented constitution of a univocal non-smoking identity, identity work entailed re-appraisals of the experience of liminality between smoking and non-smoking selves. Although the group participants reduced their tobacco consumption and some even quit, specific technologies of self sustained the smoking self alongside the non-smoking self. We propose that the social contextualisation of the smoker in the context of late modernity may explain the tolerance of chronic ambivalence and the constitution of a 'resistant' smoking- non-smoking self. Phenomenological accounts of the experience of this hybrid self may more fully explain protracted or failed cessation and further deconstruct binary readings of indulgence or control, addiction or abstinence and illness or wellness. Our findings call for the re-conceptualisation of the experience and outcome of protracted cessation and a tolerant policy-driven intervention.

Language of motivation and emotion in an internet support group for smoking cessation: explorative use of automated content analysis to measure regulatory focus.

The present study describes a novel approach to the identification of the motivational processes in text data extracted from an Internet support group (ISG) for smoking cessation. Based on the previous findings that a “prevention” focus might be more relevant for maintaining behavior change, it was hypothesized that 1) language use (ie, the use of emotional words) signaling a “promotion” focus would be dominant in the initiating stages of the ISG, and 2) that the proportion of words signaling a prevention focus would increase over time. The data were collected from the ISG site, spanning 4 years of forum activity. The data were analyzed using the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count application. The first hypothesis – of promotion focus dominance in the initiating stages – was not supported during year 1. However, for all the other years measured, the data showed that a prevention failure was more dominant compared with a promotion failure. The results indicate that content analysis could be used to investigate motivational and language-driven processes in ISGs. Understanding the interplay between self-regulation, lifestyle change, and modern communication channels could be of vital importance in providing the public with better health care services and interventions.

Assessment of changes in nicotine dependence, motivation, and symptoms of anxiety and depression among smokers in the initial process of smoking reduction or cessation: a short-term follow-up study.

The first days of a quit attempt represent an important challenge to long-term abstinence, especially because of the changes that take place over this period. To examine whether smokers who have recently changed their smoking behavior show changes in the intensity of nicotine dependence, motivational stage, or symptoms of anxiety and depression relative to smokers without recent changes in smoking behavior. Smokers attending a support group for smoking cessation in Porto Alegre, southern Brazil, were invited to participate. The program consisted of four weekly sessions. Smokers answered questionnaires covering intensity of nicotine dependence, stage of motivation, and symptoms of anxiety and depression at baseline and in the fourth week. Urine was collected at both time points, tested for cotinine concentration, and used to determine the final status of smokers. Of the 54 smokers included in the study, 20 (37%) stopped smoking or decreased tobacco use. Both smokers who stopped or reduced tobacco use and those who did not change their behavior presented a decrease in nicotine dependence scores (p = 0.001). Conversely, only the smokers who changed behavior presented an increase in scores in the maintenance stage (p < 0.001). When modifying tobacco use, smokers face a difficult process, marked by several changes. A better understanding of these changes and their implications for treatment are discussed.

Language use in an internet support group for smoking cessation: development of sense of community

The use of the internet for health purposes is increasing, as is the number of sites and online communities aimed at helping people to stop smoking. Some of the effects of online communities may be mediated through a sense of community. By using the computer-program Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count with a Norwegian dictionary, we investigated whether there was a development of sense of community in a forum related to a Norwegian smoking cessation intervention, by examining the use of self-referencing vs. collective referencing words. Data from a 4-year period, including in total 5242 web pages, were included. There was a significant increase in the use of collective words over time and a significant decrease in the use of self-referencing words. The increase in the use of collective words suggests that there appears to be a development of a sense of community in the forum over time. More research is needed to study the importance of an online sense of community.

The protocol for the Be Our Ally Beat Smoking (BOABS) study, a randomised controlled trial of an intensive smoking cessation intervention in a remote Aboriginal Australian health care setting.

BackgroundAustralian Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders (Indigenous Australians) smoke at much higher rates than non-Indigenous people and smoking is an important contributor to increased disease, hospital admissions and deaths in Indigenous Australian populations. Smoking cessation programs in Australia have not had the same impact on Indigenous smokers as on non-Indigenous smokers. This paper describes the protocol for a study that aims to test the efficacy of a locally-tailored, intensive, multidimensional smoking cessation program.Methods/DesignThis study is a parallel, randomised, controlled trial. Participants are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander smokers aged 16 years and over, who are randomly allocated to a 'control' or 'intervention' group in a 2:1 ratio. Those assigned to the 'intervention' group receive smoking cessation counselling at face-to-face visits, weekly for the first four weeks, monthly to six months and two monthly to 12 months. They are also encouraged to attend a monthly smoking cessation support group. The 'control' group receive 'usual care' (i.e. they do not receive the smoking cessation program). Aboriginal researchers deliver the intervention, the goal of which is to help Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders quit smoking. Data collection occurs at baseline (when they enrol) and at six and 12 months after enrolling. The primary outcome is self-reported smoking cessation with urinary cotinine confirmation at 12 months.DiscussionStopping smoking has been described as the single most important individual change Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander smokers could make to improve their health. Smoking cessation programs are a major priority in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and evidence for effective approaches is essential for policy development and resourcing. A range of strategies have been used to encourage Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders to quit smoking however there have been few good quality studies that show what approaches work best. More evidence of strategies that could work more widely in Indigenous primary health care settings is needed if effective policy is to be developed and implemented. Our project will make an important contribution in this area.Trial RegistrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12608000604303)

Online Social and Professional Support for Smokers Trying to Quit: An Exploration of First Time Posts From 2562 Members

BackgroundBoth intratreatment and extratreatment social support are associated with increased rates of smoking cessation. Internet-based social support groups have the capability of connecting widely dispersed groups of people trying to quit smoking, making social support available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at minimal cost. However, to date there has been little research to guide development of this particular feature of Web-assisted tobacco interventions (WATIs).ObjectiveOur objectives were to compare the characteristics of smokers who post in an online smoking cessation support group with smokers who do not post, conduct a qualitative analysis of discussion board content, and determine the time it takes for new users to receive feedback from existing members or moderators.MethodsData were collected from StopSmokingCenter.net version 5.0, a WATI equipped with an online social support network moderated by trained program health educators that was operational from November 6, 2004, to May 15, 2007. Demographic and smoking characteristics for both users and nonusers of the online social support network were analyzed, and qualitative analyses were conducted to explore themes in message content. Posting patterns and their frequency were also analyzed.ResultsDuring the study period, 16,764 individuals registered; of these, 70% (11,723) reported being American. The mean age of registrants was 38.9 years and 65% (10,965) were female. The mean number of cigarettes smoked was 20.6 per day. The mean score for the 41% (6849) of users who completed the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence was 5.6. Of all registered members, 15% (2562) made at least one post in the online social support network; 25% of first posts received a response from another member within 12 minutes, 50% within 29 minutes. The most frequent first posts were from recent quitters who were struggling with their quit attempts, and most responses were from members who had quit for a month or more. Differences in demographic and smoking characteristics between members who posted on the support group board at least once and those who did not post were statistically but not clinically significant.ConclusionsPeer responses to new users were rapid, indicating that online social support networks may be particularly beneficial to smokers requiring more immediate assistance with their cessation attempt. This function may be especially advantageous for relapse prevention. Accessing this kind of rapid in-person support from a professional would take an inordinate amount of time and money. Further research regarding the effectiveness of WATIs with online social support networks is required to better understand the contribution of this feature to cessation, for both active users (posters) and passive users (“lurkers”) alike.

Evaluating the Program of a Smoking Cessation Support Group for Adult Smokers: A Longitudinal Pilot Study

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in Taiwan. In order to increase cessation rates among adult smokers, the Department of Health in Taiwan has begun providing financial support for nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). However, therapies based on multiple interventions can lead to significantly higher cessation rates than NRT alone. This study develops and evaluates the outcomes of a smoking cessation program that provides a combination of physiological and psychological treatment in the context of a short-term support group. In this study, ten adult smokers were recruited by means of advertisements broadcast on local television over a seven-day period and one thousand flyers that advertised free assistance with quitting smoking. The smoking cessation support group was carried in Tainan County, in southern Taiwan. The three-month program consisted of three, monthly group sessions, free nicotine patches, telephone counseling by public health nurses, and telephone interviews by community health volunteers. Those participating in the group were encouraged to keep a record of all smoking behavior and its "triggers" in a diary, list the personal benefits of quitting, draw up a quitting contract, and enlist significant family members to monitor their quitting behavior. Participants were also trained in behavioral strategies to avoid smoking, including imagery rehearsal, relaxation techniques, exercise, and distraction. The outcome of the project was assessed by the following two criteria: (1) carbon monoxide (CO) level in the breath before and after the three-month program, as measured by percentage of carboxyhemoglobin (%COHB), and (2) the self-reported number of cigarettes smoked per month, taken at the outset of the three-month program, at the conclusion of the program, and six months after the termination of the program. The Wilcoxon signed-rank and Friedman tests respectively revealed that there were significant decreases both in the subjects' %COHB level at the 3-month data-point, and in the number of cigarettes smoked at one month from the pretest, at the 3-month test and at the 9-month follow-up test. At the 9-month follow-up, five of the ten participants (50%) were abstinent, and three (30%) had decreased cigarette consumption by at least 49% of their pretest levels. Eighty percent of participants had, therefore, changed their smoking behavior. These results demonstrate the promise of integrated smoking cessation therapy in a group support context and indicate the need to pursue implementation and evaluation of this type of therapy on a larger scale.