Reasons for failure to quit: a cross-sectional survey of tobacco use in major cities in Pakistan
Document Type
Article
Department
Pulmonary and Critical Care
Abstract
Background: Tobacco dependence has been defined as a chronic relapsing disease. Around 5 million annual tobacco-related deaths have been reported worldwide. The majority of smokers want to quit but are not successful.
Objectives: To screen our population for tobacco use, gauge the baseline demographics of tobacco users and assess factors associated with failed attempts to quit.
Methods: Free health camps supervised by a physician were held across two major cities of Pakistan. All consenting participants were administered a questionnaire and had their exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) levels measured.
Results: Of 12969 participants successfully enrolled, the mean age was 31.4 ± 10.0 years. More than three quarters were aged 20-40 years (n = 10168, 78.4%). The overall average CO level was 12.0 ± 8.0 ppm. The majority of the participants wanted to quit, and nearly everyone had received advice about quitting. The majority had tried smoking cessation pharmacotherapy. Friends/peer pressure (n = 1554, 12%), anxiety (n = 681, 5.3%), tobacco dependence (n = 1965, 15.2%) and stress/mood changes (n = 390, 3.0%) were the most widely observed reasons for failure to quit in study participants.
CONCLUSION: The information provided by this study can guide the development of more targeted intervention programmes for smokers who wish to quit.
Publication ( Name of Journal)
The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
Recommended Citation
Irfan, M.,
Haque, A. S.,
Shahzad, H.,
Samani, Z. A.,
Awan, S.,
Khan, J. A.
(2016). Reasons for failure to quit: a cross-sectional survey of tobacco use in major cities in Pakistan. The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 20(5), 673-678.
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_med_pulm_critcare/113