Effects of a theory-driven educational package and social support on durability of cigarette smoking cessation behavior: A community-based program

Mohammad Ali Orouji; Davoud Shojaeizadeh; Roya Sadeghi; Mohammad Rafiei

doi:10.19082/5331

Effects of a theory-driven educational package and social support on durability of cigarette smoking cessation behavior: A community-based program

Electron Physician. 2017 Sep 25;9(9):5331-5338. doi: 10.19082/5331. eCollection 2017 Sep.

Authors

Mohammad Ali Orouji¹, Davoud Shojaeizadeh², Roya Sadeghi³, Mohammad Rafiei⁴

Affiliations

¹ Ph.D. Student of Health Education and Promotion, Department of Health Promotion and Education, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
² Ph.D. of Health Education and Promotion, Professor, Department of Health Promotion and Education, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
³ Ph.D. of Health Education and Promotion, Associate Professor, Department of Health Promotion and Education, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁴ Ph.D. of Biostatistics, Professor, Department of Biostatistics and epidemiology, School of medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.

PMID: 29038718
PMCID: PMC5633234
DOI: 10.19082/5331

Abstract

Background: According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report, the prevalence of smoking in Iranian individuals aged 15-64 is up to 12%.

Objective: The aim of the current study was to determine the durability of smoking cessation behavior based on a trans-theoretical model.

Methods: This educational experimental study was conducted on smokers in Khomein City, Iran, in 2015. Sampling was done through a public announcement and then a random allocation of participants into two study group (50 persons) and control group (60 persons). Tools to gather data were as follows: an individual characteristics form and DiClemente's stages of change, Velicer's self-efficacy, Prochaska's processes of change, Velicer's decisional balance, and Fagerstrom's nicotine dependency questionnaires. The study group received five sessions of 45-minute individual counseling each and were followed-up three and six months later. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 16, using paired-samples t-test, independent-samples t-test, and chi-square.

Results: Within six months of follow-up, 20 persons (40%) of the intervention group reached the maintenance stage of smoking cessation, while no one from controls managed to do that. Except for the perceived barriers and benefits of smoking cessation, all other constructs of the trans-theoretical model (cognitive and behavioral processes and smoking temptation) showed significant changes among the intervention group during six months' follow-up (p<0.05). There was no significant relationship between variables of having smoker friends, occupation, marital status, education status, and success or failure in cigarette smoking cessation (p>0.05).

Conclusion: According to our study, selection of cigarette smokers who are willing to quit, delivery of individual counseling according to specific personal characteristics, and also provision of free nicotine replacement therapies should be taken into account in cigarette smoking cessation programs.

Keywords: Cigarette smoking cessation; Decisional balance; Stages of change; Trans-theoretical model.