Background: Understanding how prompts for quit attempts relate to quitting methods and success may improve smoking cessation interventions.
Purpose: This study aims to establish whether prompts for quitting are associated with quitting method and success.
Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, 6,126 past-year smokers who had tried to quit in the last 12 months, were asked to identify prompts contributing to their most recent attempt.
Results: Attempts prompted by health professional advice were significantly more likely to involve use of treatments and gradual rather than abrupt cessation (odds ratios (ORs; 95 % confidence interval (CIs)) = 3.64 (3.14-4.22), 0.68 (0.59-0.78); respectively) but were not more likely to succeed. Attempts prompted by concern about current or future health, or cost, were more likely to succeed (OR (95 % CIs) = 1.79 (1.38-2.32), 1.25 (1.01-1.54), and 1.41 (1.13-1.76)).
Conclusions: Quit attempts prompted by health professional advice appear to be more likely to involve gradual reduction and use of treatments. Those prompted by health concerns and cost appear more likely to succeed.