Factors influencing the intention to quit smoking among wage workers in Korea

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Intention to quit smoking (ITQ) is a precondition for the preparation and practice of smoking cessation. The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics affecting ITQ amongst wage workers. Methods/Statistical analysis: Data sets from the 2014 and 2016 Korean National Health Examination Survey (KNHANES) were used. The subjects were 940 (823 males and 117 females) workers who currently smoked, aged 19 to 64 years old. ITQ was defined as the presence of a plan to quit within one or six months. In order to understand which characteristics of the participants related to ITQ, socio-demographic, health-related, health behavioral, smoking-related, and work-related factors were investigated. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to confirm predictors of ITQ. Findings: Of 940 subjects, 39.3% (n = 369) of smoking subjects had ITQ. In univariate analyses, workers with an ITQ were more educated, more likely to have experience in weight control, drank less alcohol per week, participated in vigorous intensity leisure activity, smoked fewer cigarettes per day, attempted to quit smoking in the past, were more engaged in non-manual work, and worked longer hours per week. In multiple logistic regression analysis, previous attempts to quit smoking, daily smoking amount, and frequency of drinking per week had significant influence on ITQ. Improvements/Applications: In order to increase success rate of smoking cessation in the workplace, targeted implementation of an intervention program should be considered for workers who have previously tried to cease smoking.