Nicotine dependence, motivations, and intention to quit smoking among smoking cessation outpatients: A cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Introduction: Intention to quit smoking, a well-established predictor of future cessation attempts, is related to individuals' motivational drivers for quitting. While prior studies have examined nicotine dependence and motivations in predicting quit intention among general smokers, the unique profiles of smoking cessation outpatients in China remain underexplored.

Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 703 smokers who visited the standardized smoking cessation clinic at Ningbo, China, between January 2023 and January 2025. Sociodemographic characteristics, Fagerström test for nicotine dependence (FTND), motivations (including health, family, social, and self-management reasons), and intentions to quit smoking were collected by questionnaire-based investigations. Logistic regression analysis was applied to calculate adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for identifying the factors associated with intentions to quit smoking.

Results: In all, 59.60% of outpatients (n=400) planned to quit smoking within the next 7-day period, including those initiating abstinence, and were categorized as the high intention to quit smoking group. FTND scores classified 45.09% (n=317) as mildly dependent, 42.96% (n=302) as moderately dependent, and 11.95% (n=84) as severely dependent on nicotine. The proportion of patients in the high-intention group who quit smoking for health reasons was significantly higher than that in the low-intention group; for instance, the rates of smoking cessation attributed to personal health diagnoses were 28.25% and 4.62%, respectively. Moderate (AOR=2.77; 95% CI: 1.78-4.29) and severe nicotine dependence (AOR=2.53; 95% CI: 1.27-5.04) were independently associated with heightened cessation intention relative to mild dependence among smoking cessation outpatients. Duration of smoking (AOR=0.98; 95% CI: 0.96-1.00), drinking (AOR=0.31; 95% CI: 0.18-0.54), and self-reported health (AOR=1.60; 95% CI: 1.01-2.55) had significant effects on intention.

Conclusions: The intention to quit smoking was positively associated with the degree of nicotine dependence and health- and family-related motivations. Doctors should take these characteristics into account to provide personalized smoking cessation services.