IADR Abstract Archives
Understanding Successful and Unsuccessful Attempts to Quit Smoking: A Social Phenomenology Approach
Objectives: The aim of this qualitative study was to gain insight and understand the experience of smokers in view of successful attempts to quit smoking.
Methods: This qualitative study was based on the Alfred Schütz ‘Social Phenomenology’ method that provides a theoretical-methodological framework. Ethical approval was obtained from Joint Ethics Committee, International Medical University (JC163/2018). For in-depth interviews, fourteen participants were approached who were registered under the Quit Smoking Clinic and had attempted to quit smoking. Each in-depth session was 45-60 minutes and was audio recorded with consent. Following full verbatim transcription, detailed thematic analysis was carried out using Nvivo software.
Results: Out of the total of 14 participants 10 agreed for participation (response rate 71.4%). More than three forth of the participants reported smoking between an average of 10 cigarettes per day and the remaining reported to smoke 20 sticks a day. A success rate of 70% was recorded out of which seven participants had successfully quit smoking while the remaining 30% relapsed after the first quit attempt. The testimonies of the participants showed convergence of meanings after the sixth interview without the development of new themes until the tenth testimony, indicated data saturation. Three key themes with eight child nodes were extracted; ‘barriers to quit smoking’, ‘reasons towards quit attempt’ and ‘how to quit’. Unsuccessful attempts to quit smoking were related to tobacco addiction; cigarettes were seen as a support to cope with everyday stressful situations. Attempts to quit the smoking habits were based on the need of health improvement and insistence of family and friends. Smokers reported the use of habit cessation strategies learned in support groups, but they also expressed expectation of specialised psychological support.
Conclusions: The study highlights the importance to amplify the strategies of approaching smokers and reinforcing psychological support in order to attain success in an attempt to quit smoking.
Methods: This qualitative study was based on the Alfred Schütz ‘Social Phenomenology’ method that provides a theoretical-methodological framework. Ethical approval was obtained from Joint Ethics Committee, International Medical University (JC163/2018). For in-depth interviews, fourteen participants were approached who were registered under the Quit Smoking Clinic and had attempted to quit smoking. Each in-depth session was 45-60 minutes and was audio recorded with consent. Following full verbatim transcription, detailed thematic analysis was carried out using Nvivo software.
Results: Out of the total of 14 participants 10 agreed for participation (response rate 71.4%). More than three forth of the participants reported smoking between an average of 10 cigarettes per day and the remaining reported to smoke 20 sticks a day. A success rate of 70% was recorded out of which seven participants had successfully quit smoking while the remaining 30% relapsed after the first quit attempt. The testimonies of the participants showed convergence of meanings after the sixth interview without the development of new themes until the tenth testimony, indicated data saturation. Three key themes with eight child nodes were extracted; ‘barriers to quit smoking’, ‘reasons towards quit attempt’ and ‘how to quit’. Unsuccessful attempts to quit smoking were related to tobacco addiction; cigarettes were seen as a support to cope with everyday stressful situations. Attempts to quit the smoking habits were based on the need of health improvement and insistence of family and friends. Smokers reported the use of habit cessation strategies learned in support groups, but they also expressed expectation of specialised psychological support.
Conclusions: The study highlights the importance to amplify the strategies of approaching smokers and reinforcing psychological support in order to attain success in an attempt to quit smoking.
