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Why Don’t Smokers Want Help to Quit? A Qualitative Study of Smokers’ Attitudes towards Assisted vs. Unassisted Quitting

Author

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  • Kylie Morphett

    (University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Site, Herston, 4029 Queensland, Australia
    University of Queensland, School of Public Health, Corner of Wyndham Street and Herston Road, Herston, 4006 Queensland, Australia)

  • Brad Partridge

    (University of Queensland Centre for Youth Substance Abuse, Mental Health Centre, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, 4029 Queensland, Australia)

  • Coral Gartner

    (University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Site, Herston, 4029 Queensland, Australia
    University of Queensland, School of Public Health, Corner of Wyndham Street and Herston Road, Herston, 4006 Queensland, Australia)

  • Adrian Carter

    (University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Site, Herston, 4029 Queensland, Australia
    School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University Clinical and Imaging Neuroscience, 770 Blackburn Road, Monash University, Clayton, 3800 Victoria, Australia)

  • Wayne Hall

    (University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Site, Herston, 4029 Queensland, Australia
    University of Queensland Centre for Youth Substance Abuse, Mental Health Centre, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, 4029 Queensland, Australia)

Abstract

The development of prescription medication for smoking cessation and the introduction of evidence-based guidelines for health professionals has increasingly medicalised smoking cessation. There are debates about whether medicalisation is a positive development, or whether it has devalued unassisted quitting. In this debate the views of smokers have been neglected. This study explored the attitudes of smokers towards a range of quitting methods, and their considerations when judging their value. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 29 smokers and analysed data using thematic analysis. The results show that the perceived nature of an individual smoker’s addiction was central to judgments about the value of pharmacological cessation aids, as was personal experience with a method, and how well it was judged to align with an individual’s situation and personality. Unassisted quitting was often described as the best method. Negative views of pharmacological cessation aids were frequently expressed, particularly concerns about side effects from prescription medications. Smokers’ views about the value of different methods were not independent: attitudes about cessation aids were shaped by positive attitudes towards unassisted quitting. Examining smokers’ attitudes towards either assisted or unassisted quitting in isolation provides incomplete information on quitting preferences.

Suggested Citation

  • Kylie Morphett & Brad Partridge & Coral Gartner & Adrian Carter & Wayne Hall, 2015. "Why Don’t Smokers Want Help to Quit? A Qualitative Study of Smokers’ Attitudes towards Assisted vs. Unassisted Quitting," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-17, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:6:p:6591-6607:d:50954
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Simon Chapman & Ross MacKenzie, 2010. "The Global Research Neglect of Unassisted Smoking Cessation: Causes and Consequences," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(2), pages 1-6, February.
    2. Lawlor, D.A. & Frankel, S. & Shaw, M. & Ebrahim, S. & Smith, G.D., 2003. "Smoking and Ill health: Does lay epidemiology explain the failure of smoking cessation programs among deprived populations?," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 93(2), pages 266-270.
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    Cited by:

    1. Carla Meurk & Pauline Ford & Ratika Sharma & Lisa Fitzgerald & Coral Gartner, 2016. "Views and Preferences for Nicotine Products as an Alternative to Smoking: A Focus Group Study of People Living with Mental Disorders," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-18, November.
    2. Ross Thomson & Lisa McDaid & Joanne Emery & Felix Naughton & Sue Cooper & Jane Dyas & Tim Coleman, 2019. "Knowledge and Education as Barriers and Facilitators to Nicotine Replacement Therapy Use for Smoking Cessation in Pregnancy: A Qualitative Study with Health Care Professionals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-13, May.

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