DETERMINANTS OF OUTCOME AMONG SMOKERS IN A SMOKING CESSATION PROGRAM

BACKGROUND: Tobacco consumption is now one of the most serious problems in the world and is receiving renewed attention in the current health promotion. OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to elucidate the psychosocial and behavioural aspects of smokers associated with participation, attrition and outcome in smoking cessation programs. METHODOLOGY: This prospective cohort design included three hundred and twenty six smokers from the antismoking center - King Fahd Specialist Hospital, Buraydah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The selected patients were subjected to a history taking, the assessment of causes of smoking, motives for quitting and belief problems arising from quitting; then they were made to join the clinic's antismoking program and were followed up after six months to assess the success of the program, which was measured by the rate of recidivism. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The results showed that the important psychosocial and behavioural factors affecting the success in quitting smoking were: previous history of an attempt to stop tension, anxiety, anger, health beliefs and attitudes, importance of quitting, duration of smoking, period of last attempt to stop and the method used. These factors can be modified in order to increase the likelihood of success in quitting smoking.