Background: Tobacco use remains a major public health issue. Population-level efforts to curb tobacco use include media to promote smoking cessation. However, these campaigns (including tobacco package warning labels) commonly emphasize the addictiveness of nicotine and the difficulty of quitting with statements like ?nicotine is as addictive as heroin and cocaine?. Addiction oriented messages may have an iatrogenic effect on cessation by undermining behavioural precursors such as self-efficacy, cessation outcome expectations, behavioural control, and quit-aid efficacy. <br /><br /> Objectives: First, to determine the effects of addiction focused messages in comparison to efficacy enhanced messages and control messages on smokers? self-efficacy, cessation outcome expectations, behavioural control, and quit-aid efficacy. Second, to determine if the impact of addiction focused messages differ according to participant nicotine dependency level. <br /><br /> Methods: A sample of adult smokers (n>101) from Kitchener/Waterloo and Owen Sound were randomly assigned into one of three intervention conditions: addiction focused (M1), efficacy enhanced (M2), and control (M3). Outcome measures were collected at baseline, post intervention and 30-day follow-up and included: self-efficacy, outcome expectations, behavioural control, quit-aid efficacy, and outcome expectancies. The 30-day follow-up also included measures of smoking consumption, quit attempts and use of a quit-aid. <br /><br /> Results: Majority of the participants were males and between 18-25 years of age. Mean number of cigarettes smoked ranged from 12 to 15 across groups whereas the mean number of years smoked ranged from 12 to 17. General linear analyses revealed no significant effect of message type or nicotine dependence (as measured by the Fagerstrome Test for Nicotine Dependence) on the outcome variables of interest. However, when perceived addiction was substituted as the measure of nicotine dependence, the analysis revealed a main effect for nicotine dependence on self-efficacy post intervention and on cessation outcome expectations at follow-up. An interaction effect was found for outcome expectancy at post intervention. <br /><br /> Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that acute addiction oriented messages may not negatively impact smokers? self-efficacy, outcomes expectations, behavioural control, quit-aid efficacy, and outcome expectancies. However, this does mean that message orientation should be ignored when constructing smoking cessation messages. In fact, program designers are encouraged to employ messages that limit the use of addiction oriented statements such as ?nicotine is as addictive as heroin and cocaine?. Further research is required to examine the potential cumulative impact of addiction oriented messages on quitting behaviour and its precursors.

Background: Across North America, smoking prevalence is highest among young adults (YAs). Understanding the cessation behaviours of YAs is critical given their higher smoking rates; however, there is a paucity of prospective studies on YA cessation from a population-based sample of smokers. Objectives: This study characterizes younger and older adult smokers as well as identifies the rate of making a quit attempt (QA) and smoking cessation among a representative sample of younger and older adult smokers. Guided by the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), this study also examines the interpersonal predictors of moving toward smoking cessation among YAs. Methods: Self-report data on 592 YA and 2777 older adult smokers were compiled from the Ontario Tobacco Survey baseline and six-month follow-up interviews. Smoking cessation behaviour was measured as an ordinal variable: made no attempt to quit, made a QA that lasted for less than 30 days, and successfully quit for 30 days or longer. Design-based analyses examined the characteristics of young and older adult smokers. Making a QA and smoking cessation during a six-month follow-up period were modeled according to the SCT constructs while accounting for the complex study design. Results: Young adult smokers were more likely to be men with lower levels of addiction but greater self-efficacy and an intention to quit than their older counterparts. While YA smokers were more likely to make a QA than their older counterparts (25% vs. 17%, respectively), they were no more likely to succeed (14% vs. 10%, respectively). Having an intention to quit smoking and having made two or more lifetime number of QAs predicted making a QA; the use of smoking cessation aids or resources and having knowledge that stop smoking medications make quitting a lot easier also contributed to making an attempt to quit. Self-efficacy, use of smoking cessation aids or resources and having someone to support one‘s QA were positive predictors of quitting whereas having high levels of addiction was a negative predictor of cessation. Conclusions: Young and older adults are distinct types of smokers with different personal and smoking characteristics. Different factors predicted making a QA and smoking cessation among YAs. Smoking cessation interventions for YAs should provide social support and skills to build and maintain self-efficacy to quit. It is critical to ensure YA smokers have effective smoking cessation aids and services that are easily accessible and appropriate for this population. Future research is needed to understand long-term smoking cessation and relapse in this vulnerable population.

While up to 45% of women quit smoking during pregnancy, nearly 80% return to smoking within a year after delivery. Current interventions to prevent this return have had limited success. The aim of this study was to use the Theory of Planned Behavior to understand the factors influencing intention to resume smoking postpartum, specifically focusing on the role of subjective norms, or the social environment. During the postpartum hospital stay, we conducted in-depth, individual interviews with 24 women who had quit smoking during pregnancy. Over 300 pages of transcripts were analyzed by all four investigators using qualitative methods to identify common themes facilitated by Atlas.ti software. Respondents were predominately white (63%) and primipara (54%) with a mean age of 26. When reflecting on their experiences of being a smoker, the women emphasized the importance of their social relationships. Common themes were: 1) virtually all were embedded in large, complex social networks of smokers (partners, family, friends, co-workers) that influenced their smoking behavior, 2) the subjective norm (the perceived social pressure) for many women was that, while smoking during pregnancy is unacceptable, smoking after pregnancy is tolerable, and 3) partners were particularly influential on these womens smoking behaviors. In conclusion, we found that social environment played a large role in these women's past smoking behavior and future intentions. Thus, this factor may continue to influence their behavior after pregnancy. Further research is needed to establish the generalizability of these findings; however, our study suggests that the influence of the social environment should be integrated into postpartum smoking interventions.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2009. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 154 p. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 112-128).

Not available / text

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

No description available.

The vast majority of smokers who manage to quit do so without the assistance of a facilitated cessation program. Since the majority of focused anti-smoking efforts are directed at facilitated programs, there is an apparent gap in service of the population at risk. Also, the sharp decline in smoking prevalence indicates a changing demographic dynamic. It is probable that those persons still smoking comprise a different population type than did smokers of a decade ago. A reexamination of major strategies for self-quitting is strongly indicated.The purpose of this thesis was to apply what was known about addictive behavior to a self-guided quitting process. Major variables guiding this effort were learning theory, theory of self-change, empirically demonstrated methods of cessation, and psychosocial effects on lifestyle change.The knowledge gained during the process was incorporated into a menu approach that emphasized personal responsibility for the quitting process and allows for choices that serve to tailor the program to the individual's needs. The end result was a quitters' guide, desktop published and prepared in a small quantity for pilot purposes. This guide was evaluated by persons with particular expertise in addictive behavior, especially smoking cessation. An ammended product was then presented to smokers and/or former smokers for further feedback. A journal of the process that detailed both difficulties and successes was also included. / Fisher Institute for Wellness

The purpose of this research was to compare and contrast the components and characteristics of selected widely available smoking cessation programs.To reach this goal, an evaluation form was developed after an extensive review of the literature which addressed the structure, duration, techniques, issues which were discussed, success rates and availability of the programs. This form was tested for content validity by a jury of experts and was used to review each of thirteen selected smoking cessation programs. The reviews were conducted by the author using program materials received from the sponsoring organizations. Any questions which could not be answered with these materials were answered through a telephone interview with a representative of the sponsoring organization.Once the reviews were completed, the information was transferred to table form and to a database so that collective data could be generated. The following conclusions were drawn from the table and the data generated: the existing smoking cessation programs appear to have been developed utilizing suggestions offered in to use similar program techniques, and a great deal of variance exists in terms of success rates and cost. / Department of Physiology and Health Science

Background: Across North America, smoking prevalence is highest among young adults (YAs). Understanding the cessation behaviours of YAs is critical given their higher smoking rates; however, there is a paucity of prospective studies on YA cessation from a population-based sample of smokers. Objectives: This study characterizes younger and older adult smokers as well as identifies the rate of making a quit attempt (QA) and smoking cessation among a representative sample of younger and older adult smokers. Guided by the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), this study also examines the interpersonal predictors of moving toward smoking cessation among YAs. Methods: Self-report data on 592 YA and 2777 older adult smokers were compiled from the Ontario Tobacco Survey baseline and six-month follow-up interviews. Smoking cessation behaviour was measured as an ordinal variable: made no attempt to quit, made a QA that lasted for less than 30 days, and successfully quit for 30 days or longer. Design-based analyses examined the characteristics of young and older adult smokers. Making a QA and smoking cessation during a six-month follow-up period were modeled according to the SCT constructs while accounting for the complex study design. Results: Young adult smokers were more likely to be men with lower levels of addiction but greater self-efficacy and an intention to quit than their older counterparts. While YA smokers were more likely to make a QA than their older counterparts (25% vs. 17%, respectively), they were no more likely to succeed (14% vs. 10%, respectively). Having an intention to quit smoking and having made two or more lifetime number of QAs predicted making a QA; the use of smoking cessation aids or resources and having knowledge that stop smoking medications make quitting a lot easier also contributed to making an attempt to quit. Self-efficacy, use of smoking cessation aids or resources and having someone to support one‘s QA were positive predictors of quitting whereas having high levels of addiction was a negative predictor of cessation. Conclusions: Young and older adults are distinct types of smokers with different personal and smoking characteristics. Different factors predicted making a QA and smoking cessation among YAs. Smoking cessation interventions for YAs should provide social support and skills to build and maintain self-efficacy to quit. It is critical to ensure YA smokers have effective smoking cessation aids and services that are easily accessible and appropriate for this population. Future research is needed to understand long-term smoking cessation and relapse in this vulnerable population.