Few studies have simultaneously considered the effects of significant others and medical professionals' advice to quit smoking on smoking cessation intention. The present study involved 3841 current adult Korean smokers, divided into four groups with an intention to quit within 1 month, within 6 months, someday, and without intention to quit. Multinomial multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted according to smoking cessation intention level, adjusted for potential confounders, including past smoking cessation attempts. Smokers who had been advised to quit smoking by both significant others and medical professionals, significant others only, and medical professionals only were 2.63 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.62-4.29), 1.84 (95% CI: 1.17-2.89), and 1.44 (95% CI: 0.70-2.94) times more likely to intend to quit within 1 month, respectively, than those who were not advised to quit. The odds ratios of an intention to quit within 6 months were 2.91 (95% CI: 1.87-4.54), 2.49 (95% CI: 1.69-3.68), and 0.94 (95% CI: 0.44-2.05), respectively. To promote smokers' intention to quit, the role of significant others should be considered. Medical professionals' advice to quit smoking remains important, increasing the effects of significant others' advice.
Keywords: Korea community health survey (KCHS); advice; attempt; intention; medical professionals; significant others; smoking cessation.