Reza Gholi Vahidi, Shabnam Iezadi, Farrokh Mojahed, Azad Shokri, Kamal Gholipour, Reza Imanparvar.
Factors affecting successful smoking cessation: patient views regarding determinants of successful smoking cessation- a study from East Azerbaijan, Tabriz – Iran.
J Pioneering Med Students Jan ;4(2):89-93.

BACKGROUND: In this study we sought to explore patients’ views regarding factors that helped them in smoking cessation. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 221 subjects who successfully stopped smoking were selected from two smoking cessation centers. We developed questionnaires which included 15 factors that may be associated with successful smoking cessation. Six months after successful smoking cessation, we administered the questionnaire to see what factors were associated with success in smoking cessation among the subjects. Validity of the study questionnaire was confirmed by 10 experts and its reliability was confirmed through a pilot study based on Cronbach’s alpha index (α=0.754). Frequencies and percentages were used to describe demographic information of participants. Data was analyzed using the SPSS version 11.0 software. RESULTS: Our study showed that worrying about getting ill in the future (95.4%), the side effects of smoking heard or observed (94.5%) were ranked the most important factors; while peer pressure (24.3%) and cost of cigarettes (17.2%) were the least important determinants of successful smoking cessation. CONCLUSION: In order to develop successful smoking cessation programs, public health professionals and health authorities need to focus on the key determinants of successful smoking cessation. This study highlights perspectives of former smokers who were successful in smoking cessation and thus incorporation of these factors in future intervention programs may prove beneficial, although randomized controlled trials and multicenter studies are needed.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com