Factors affecting smoking initiation and cessation among adult smokers in Fiji: A qualitative study

Experiences with smoking habits and the need for cessation among habitual smokers in Japan: a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews

BACKGROUND

Although more than half of the habitual smokers recognize that they want to quit smoking cigarettes, approximately half have failed to quit and experienced distress relapse; therefore, there is an urgent need to focus on these populations. When chronic behavior occurs, it is necessary to view the behavior in the context of the entire life of the person involved, considering the history of the person. In this study, we aimed to describe experiences with smoking from the onset to the present and the need for smoking cessation among habitual smokers in Japan and to explore efforts to address them.

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews that lasted for 55-90 min were conducted with the cooperation of 16 habitual smokers who smoked cigarettes daily. The content of the interviews included demographic characteristics, experiences with smoking from the onset to the present, whether they have attempted to quit and related experiences, and their thoughts on smoking. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed qualitatively. The Medical Research Ethics Review Committee of Jikei University approved this study (approval number: 33-384(11008)).

RESULTS

The participants were aged 26-59 years (mean ± SD: 40.8 ± 8.9 years) and included 10 men and 6 women. The participants started smoking between age 13 and 24 years. The highest number of cigarettes smoked in the participants' lives ranged from 10 to 80 daily, and 12 participants had attempted to quit smoking so far without success. Regarding experiences with smoking from the onset to the present, four themes of "expand one's world," "unconscious attachment," "attempts and failures," and "losing oneself" were extracted. Regarding the need for smoking cessation, four themes of "empowerment from experts," "peer interaction," "social commitment," and "recovery of confidence" were extracted.

CONCLUSION

To support smoking cessation from the perspective of habitual smokers, in addition to improvements through the existing approaches, it is important to recover their confidence using ongoing activities in peer groups according to the target background and support from experts incorporating visual assessments of lung function, along with multiple short-term goals. It is also necessary to raise awareness in communities through activities.

The association between cultural and social occasions and smoking cessation: The case of Saudi Arabia

INTRODUCTION

Tobacco use remains high in Saudi Arabia, necessitating an understanding of the influence of cultural and social events on smoking cessation. This study examined whether cultural and social events like Ramadan, Eids, and birthdays, motivate Saudi adults to quit smoking.

METHODS

Convenience sampling of 742 Saudi tobacco users was conducted between July 2021 and May 2022. A cross-sectional survey was used to assess self-reported desire to quit (1 = 'least desire' to 10 = 'highest desire') and behaviors in relation to special occasions. Multiple linear regression was performed to examine the association between cultural and social occasions and the desire to quit, while logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between cultural and social occasions and historical quit attempts, medicinal nicotine product use, visiting smoking cessation clinics, and calling the national Quitline. Demographic variables and tobacco types were controlled for in the analyses.

RESULTS

Considering quitting during Ramadan, Eids, and birthdays was associated with a higher desire to quit (Ramadan: B=2.99; 95% CI: 2.51-3.47, Eids: B=2.83; 95% CI: 2.12-3.54, and birthdays: B=2.76; 95% CI: 1.93-3.60, p<0.01) and a greater likelihood of past quit attempts (Ramadan: AOR=8.2; 95% CI: 5.5-12.1, Eids: AOR=5.8; 95% CI: 3.2-10.5, and birthdays: AOR=4.8; 95% CI: 2.4-9.4). Only considering quitting during Ramadan was associated with calling the national Quitline (AOR=2.9; 95% CI: 1.8-4.9).

CONCLUSIONS

Cultural and social events like Ramadan and Eids motivate adults in Saudi Arabia to attempt tobacco cessation. Targeting interventions around meaningful cultural occasions may promote successful quitting. These findings highlight the importance of understanding cultural and religious influences on cessation behaviors in Saudi Arabia and in other countries.

Effect of socioeconomic status on smoking cessation behavior in selected African countries: Secondary analysis of Global Adult Tobacco Survey data (2014–2018)

Introduction

Tobacco use remains a global public health challenge. While studies report that smoking cessation reduces the risk of cancer and other NCDs, evidence is scarce in African region on socio-economic determinants of smoking cessation behavior. This study examined the socio-economic differentials of smoking cessation behavior among smokers in four African countries.

Methods

The study was conducted through secondary analysis of Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) data from four African countries (Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal and Tanzania). Smoking cessation behavior was assessed using two variables i) intention to quit smoking in next 12 months and ii) previous quit attempts made within 12 months preceding the survey. The weighted percentages for intention to quit smoking and previous quit attempts were computed. The adjusted odds ratios were computed using multinomial logistic regression to identify the association between socio-economic factors and smoking cessation behavior.

Results

Across the four countries studied, the previous quit attempts among smokers were in the range of 39.6% to 53.7%. Around 7.6% to 15.8% of the smokers tried to quit with an assistance. In Ethiopia over 76.5% of current smokers reported no intention to quit in next 12 months after survey, whereas the same was 50.4% in Senegal. While country specific differences were observed, females, those belonging to the poorest wealth index, unemployed and those without any formal education reported significantly lower odds of previous quit attempts or having an intention to quit smoking.

Conclusion

The socio-economic vulnerabilities were found to compromise smoking cessation behavior among the smokers in countries studied. Targeted interventions, adherence to smokefree laws, and provision of cessation support are essential to improve quit rates and mitigate tobacco risks among socio-economically vulnerable population.