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TABLE 6
FACTORS THAT CAN CONVINCE A SMOKER TO STOP SMOKING
(n=100)
|
Factors
|
Number (%)*
|
Realization of the benefits
of not smoking
Seeing a person ill due to smoking
Better health
Better breath, taste and smell
Monetary saving
None |
68(37.4)
47(25.8)
25(13.7)
18(9.9)
13(7.1)
11(6.0)
|
* number of responses=182
Fifty three (53%) smokers showed
their willingness to initiate smoking cessation on their own while
thirty five (35%) of the smokers agreed to join a smoking cessation
program.
Fifty nine (59%) smokers showed their willingness to give up smoking
if provided with nicotine replacement. Eighty four (84%) smokers were
not convinced that health department and media were playing an adequate
role in discouraging smoking in the country.
|
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DISCUSSION
This study documents the failed attempts and
perceived barriers to smoking cessation.
Since we have interviewed a limited number of patients, and without
using systematic random method for patient selection, generalization
of the study results cannot be recommended. The majority of the respondents
were men (96 percent) and with graduate education (53 percent), making
generalization of the results to the rest of the population difficult.
The overwhelming proportion of men in the study is due to the low
prevalence of smoking among Pakistani women11. Since we interviewed
patients visiting a teaching hospital, this again introduces a bias
in the study. Despite these inherent weaknesses in the design and
conduct of the study, we have documented the barriers to smoking cessation
among the study population.
It will improve our understanding of the management of smoking cessation
programs. It is for this reason that such survey should be part of
family practice facilities, in order to improve the success rates
of smoking cessation among the patients.
 
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