Motivation to stop smoking in the German population between 2016 - 2021 and associated factors: results from a repeated cross-sectional representative population survey (German Study on Tobacco Use, DEBRA study)

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to describe population trends in motivation to stop smoking between 2016 and 2021 in Germany. Furthermore, the aim was to estimate to what extent higher ratings on the validated German version of the Motivation To Stop Scale (MTSS) are associated with sociodemographics, nicotine dependence, past quit attempts, and use of e-cigarettes and tobacco product alternatives. METHODS: We used data from the German Study on Tobacco Use: an ongoing repeated cross-sectional face-to-face household survey collecting representative data of the German population every other month since 2016. We analysed data from 18 969 adult current smokers with multivariable ordinal regression and described MTSS scores between 2016 and 2021 (scores 1–7=lowest to highest level of motivation). RESULTS: The mean MTSS score was 2.04 (SD=1.37) and showed a slight downward trend over time. Younger age, higher level of education, fewer cigarettes per day, more time spent with urges to smoke, a recent quit attempt, no previous waterpipe use and current or past e-cigarette use were associated with higher MTSS scores. The largest effect estimates were observed for at least one quit attempt 0–6 months ago versus no attempt in the past year (OR=7.54; 95% CI 6.78 to 8.40), at least one quit attempt 7–12 months ago versus no attempt in the past year (OR=4.00; 95% CI 3.59 to 4.45) and for current versus never use of e-cigarettes (OR=1.71; 95% CI 1.48 to 1.99). CONCLUSIONS: Recent quit attempts and current use of e-cigarettes were associated with higher motivation to stop smoking in the German population. Actions to boost the general motivation to stop smoking are required.