Smokers’ past experience and intentions in selecting cessation aids: implications of social learning theory

Abstract

Introduction Motivation of smokers to quit and their intention to use evidence-based cessation tools might be an important predictor of the quit attempt outcome. We aimed to check the hypothesis that smokers’ intention to use particular tools for smoking cessation is determined by the tools used in earlier attempts and the outcomes of past attempts. Material and Methods Ukrainian daily smokers participated in telephone interviews in 2016 and were asked about their smoking behavior, intention to quit, earlier attempts and tools that will be preferred in future quit attempts. The analysis aimed to explore associations of intended approaches to quitting with earlier used tools, smoking history, nicotine dependence, and demographics. Results Earlier unassisted quit attempts predicted the intention to quit unassisted: Odds Ratio[OR]=1.6(95% CI:1.3-2.0). Use of self-help materials in the past predicted the same intent in future: OR=5.3 (95%CI:3.8-7.5) with a decrease by age. Getting counseling from a physician or a psychologist in the past and younger age was associated with the intention to get counseling through quit line or face-to-face: OR=7.9 (95%CI:2.6-23.9). Intention to use NRT was modified by the duration of abstinence in earlier quit attempts: 15% of those who used NRT and were abstinent for years, 7% of those abstinent for weeks or months and none of those who used NRT but were abstinent for only days intended to use NRT again. Conclusions Past experience is a strong predictor of smokers’ intentions. Cessation counselors need to help smokers realize the outcomes of their past quit attempts and use this information in making new attempts successful.