Planned quit attempts among Ontario smokers: impact on abstinence

• Published in: Addiction (Abingdon, England) Vol. 106; no. 11; pp. 2005 - 2013
• Main Authors: Sendzik, Taryn, McDonald, Paul W., Brown, K. Stephen, Hammond, David, Ferrence, Roberta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.11.2011; Blackwell
• Subjects: Abstinence; Addiction; Addictive behaviors; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; behaviour; Biological and medical sciences; Canada; Counseling - utilization; Female; Health Behavior; Health care; Health Professions; Health services; Humans; Impact analysis; Intention; Logistic Models; Longitudinal studies; Male; Medical care; Medical sciences; Medical treatment; Miscellaneous; Ontario; Ontario - epidemiology; Planning; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; quit attempts; Retrospective Studies; Self-Help Groups - utilization; Smoking; Smoking - epidemiology; Smoking - psychology; Smoking cessation; Smoking Cessation - methods; Smoking Cessation - psychology; Smoking Cessation - statistics & numerical data; Surveys; Tobacco; Tobacco smoking; Tobacco Use Cessation Products - utilization; Tobacco Use Disorder - drug therapy; Tobacco Use Disorder - epidemiology; Tobacco Use Disorder - psychology; Tobacco, tobacco smoking; Toxicology; unplanned; Canada; North America; Ontario; America; Ontario Canada; Human; Drug addiction; Organization; Poison withdrawal; Tobacco smoking; Substance abuse; Abstinence; Tobacco; Addiction; Shutdown; Smoker; quit attempts; smoking cessation; behaviour; Behavior; Planning; unplanned
• ISSN: 0965-2140; 1360-0443
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2011.03498.x

ABSTRACT Aims  To examine the use and role of planned quit attempts by smokers and their impact on abstinence. Design  Retrospective, using longitudinal data from the Ontario Tobacco Survey. Setting  Ontario, Canada. Participants  A total of 551 adult smokers who reported having made a quit attempt during 2007–08. Measurements  Reported planning of the most recent quit attempt (i.e. unplanned or planned some time in advance), engaging in preparatory behaviours believed to be related to planning (i.e. use of quit aids such as pharmacotherapy, formal support or health professionals) and abstinence at 1 week and 1 month following the attempt. Findings  Of the smokers, 73.6% planned their quit attempt in advance. Reported planning was more likely among those who thought they were very addicted, compared with those who were less addicted [odds ratio (OR) = 2.22, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15–4.28]. Smokers who planned a quit attempt were much more likely to use a quit aid (OR = 3.50, 95% CI: 1.80–6.79), particularly pharmacotherapy (OR = 6.13, 95% CI: 3.05–12.34). The odds of abstaining for 1 week were lower among those who planned (OR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.22–0.89), independent of perceived addiction. No significant difference was observed for abstinence lasting 1 month. Other factors associated with abstinence were smoking fewer cigarettes per day and having personal support. Conclusions  Although most quit attempts were planned and planners had higher odds of using quit aids, planning did not increase the likelihood of success.