Some psychosocial aspects of smoking: 10-year experience in "Quit & Win" campaigns in Novosibirsk.

In Novosibirsk International "Quit & Win" campaigns have been conducted by the Institute of Internal Medicine since 1994. The aim is to support people who want to quit smoking, to draw society's attention to the problem, to decrease CVD risk. The registered participants of "Quit & Win" were interviewed in a year after each campaign. In the follow-up study we analysed marital status, education, motivation to participation. The tendencies are clearly seen: the prize was the motivation for 50% of registered participants in 1998 and only for 25% in 2004; illness was the reason to quit for 15% in 1998 and for 25% in 2004; "smoking is harmful" was said by 30% of participants in each campaign. Most of the participants wishing to quit are married (about 75%). Family and friends' support was received by 45% of participants in 1998 and about 85% in 2004. About 30% of participants have high education and about 8% have primary education, the rest have secondary or special professional education. To quit completely was intended by 35% of participants in 1998 and 92% in 2004. Mass anti-smoking campaigns are effective and inexpensive. Support of family members, mass media, friends and medical professionals is very important. Stress, smoking environment and nicotine dependence are the main causes of unsuccessful quitting.