Self-changing Strategies to Quit Smoking Among Current Tobacco Smokers in General Population

Tobacco smoking is one of the important public health problems in India and the prevalence of smoking among adult males is high. Despite numerous community interventions and government legislation against smoking, cessation or prevention of tobacco smoking is still challengeable. Literature suggests that strong self-changing behaviours of smokers, facilitate the process of quit smoking. The aim of this cross sectional study was to explore self-changing strategies to quit smoking among current smokers in a selected rural population at Bangalore. A sample size of 35 from general population were conveniently selected to complete a Self-Changing Strategies of Current Smokers (SCS-CS) questionnaire about commitment to change, taking control, risk assessment, helping relationship and coping with temptation to quit smoking. Amongst all the participants (n=35) none of the females were identified. Around 12 (34.3%) of male study subjects smoked more than 10 times per day. Nearly three-fourth of current smokers (n= 25, 71.4%) never had previous quit attempts. Commitment to change strategy (mean 11.11±2.73) was high among subjects, (80% often thought to stop smoking) which facilitated to strengthen their pre-contemplation stage of change process. In-contrary participants were weak in coping process. Greater part (n=21, 60%) of the subjects ‘never’ keep themselves busy to overcome the urge to smoke thus failing to achieve the maintenance stage in change process (mean 5.57±2.83). Continuous followup and frequent cessation programme would aid to boost up the self-change strategies to quit smoking. Mental health professionals such as psychiatry nurses actively implementing the smoking cessation intervention in every care settings will increase the successful quitting.