Tobacco Use: Quitting Plan, Attempts and Obstacles for Cessation- A Cross-Sectional Study from A Sub-Urban Neighbourhood of Chennai-Tamil Nadu

Introduction: Tobacco consumption is a preventable public health problem. GATS -2 survey in Tamil Nadu shows that 20% of adults use tobacco, 40% had plans to quit and 48% had made quit attempts. The purpose of the study was to assess factors associated with tobacco use; quitting plan, attempts and identify obstacles for tobacco cessation. Methods: A Cross-sectional study was done among 300 tobacco users in a suburban neighbourhood of Chen-nai and data was analysed using SPSS software. Results: Ninety five percent were smokers and 86% smoked cigarettes. 70% knew that it causes cancer and respiratory diseases. 60% planned to quit, 69% made quit attempts. Those with quit plans and health prob-lems had an increased odds (AOR of 1.02 and 1.004 respectively) of making quit attempts. Advice from health professionals (48%) and family (52%) triggered quit attempts. Stress and work pressure were obstacles for quitting (70%). Availability of therapy and professional help for tobacco cessation was known only to 49% and 14.7% respectively and none availed it. Conclusion: Awareness of health hazards of tobacco use was high. Quit attempts have increased but with high failure rates due to lack of information and access to tobacco cessation services. Provision of community and facility-based tobacco cessation services and integration with existing health programmes is the present need.

Relationship between social norms and smoking cessation among male smokers in three cities of China / 上海预防医学

Objective To explore the relationship between social norms and smoking intention, among male smokers in China. Methods A total 3 621 (with 95.8% of effective response rate) male smokers were selected and investigated with questionnaires from August to November in 2013.Univariate logistic regressions and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to find the associations between social norms, smoking intention and quitting attempts. Results Smokers perceived low pro-quitting social norms from their family members, friends and other people around.With a 1 point increase in pro-quitting social norms score, smokers′ willingness to quit in the next 6 months increased by 69% (OR=1.69, 95%CI:1.48-1.94), and smokers were 86% more likely to quit(OR=1.86, 95%CI:1.66-2.08). Conclusion Pro-quitting social norms is proved to be an independent predictor for smoking intention, quitting attempts among male smokers in China.Therefore, future intervention should aim to establish pro-quitting social norms for smoking cessation.

Relationship between social norms and smoking cessation among male smokers in three cities of China / 上海预防医学

Objective To explore the relationship between social norms and smoking intention, among male smokers in China. Methods A total 3 621 (with 95.8% of effective response rate) male smokers were selected and investigated with questionnaires from August to November in 2013.Univariate logistic regressions and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to find the associations between social norms, smoking intention and quitting attempts. Results Smokers perceived low pro-quitting social norms from their family members, friends and other people around.With a 1 point increase in pro-quitting social norms score, smokers′ willingness to quit in the next 6 months increased by 69% (OR=1.69, 95%CI:1.48-1.94), and smokers were 86% more likely to quit(OR=1.86, 95%CI:1.66-2.08). Conclusion Pro-quitting social norms is proved to be an independent predictor for smoking intention, quitting attempts among male smokers in China.Therefore, future intervention should aim to establish pro-quitting social norms for smoking cessation.