Motivational factors predict quit attempts but not maintenance of smoking cessation: findings from the International Tobacco Control Four country project

TY - JOUR

T1 - Motivational factors predict quit attempts but not maintenance of smoking cessation

T2 - findings from the International Tobacco Control Four country project

AU - Borland, Ron

AU - Yong, Hua-Hie

AU - Balmford, James

AU - Cooper, Jae

AU - Cummings, K Michael

AU - O'Connor, Richard J

AU - McNeill, Ann

AU - Zanna, Mark P

AU - Fong, Geoffrey T

PY - 2010/10

Y1 - 2010/10

N2 - Aim: To explore whether measures of motivation to quit smoking have different predictive relationships with making quit attempts and the maintenance of those attempts. Methods: Data are from three wave-to-wave transitions of the International Tobacco Control Four (ITC-4) country project. Smokers’ responses at one wave were used to predict the likelihood of making an attempt and among those trying the likelihood of maintaining an attempt for at least a month at the next wave. For both outcomes, hierarchical logistic regressions were used to explore the predictive capacity of seven measures of motivation to quit smoking, controlling for a range of other known or possible predictors. Results: Bivariate analyses indicate that measures of motivation to quit are predictive of making quit attempts, but they predict relapse among those making attempts. Multivariate analyses identified wanting to quit and frequency of prematurely butting out cigarettes as the main positive predictors of making attempts, but this was reduced by intention and recency of last attempt. For maintenance, premature butting out was the main motivation variable predicting relapse and was essentially unaffected by other measures. Discussion: The findings show that it is wrong to suggest that all one needs to quit is to be motivated to do so. The reality is that one needs to be motivated to prompt action to stop smoking, but this is not sufficient in and of itself to ensure that cessation is maintained. These findings call attention to the importance of understanding the differential roles that prequit and postquit experiences play in smoking cessation and of providing help to smokers to stay off cigarettes.

AB - Aim: To explore whether measures of motivation to quit smoking have different predictive relationships with making quit attempts and the maintenance of those attempts. Methods: Data are from three wave-to-wave transitions of the International Tobacco Control Four (ITC-4) country project. Smokers’ responses at one wave were used to predict the likelihood of making an attempt and among those trying the likelihood of maintaining an attempt for at least a month at the next wave. For both outcomes, hierarchical logistic regressions were used to explore the predictive capacity of seven measures of motivation to quit smoking, controlling for a range of other known or possible predictors. Results: Bivariate analyses indicate that measures of motivation to quit are predictive of making quit attempts, but they predict relapse among those making attempts. Multivariate analyses identified wanting to quit and frequency of prematurely butting out cigarettes as the main positive predictors of making attempts, but this was reduced by intention and recency of last attempt. For maintenance, premature butting out was the main motivation variable predicting relapse and was essentially unaffected by other measures. Discussion: The findings show that it is wrong to suggest that all one needs to quit is to be motivated to do so. The reality is that one needs to be motivated to prompt action to stop smoking, but this is not sufficient in and of itself to ensure that cessation is maintained. These findings call attention to the importance of understanding the differential roles that prequit and postquit experiences play in smoking cessation and of providing help to smokers to stay off cigarettes.

KW - Adult

KW - Attitude to Health

KW - Australia

KW - Canada

KW - Female

KW - Great Britain

KW - Humans

KW - Intention

KW - International Cooperation

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Motivation

KW - Multivariate Analysis

KW - Recurrence

KW - Risk Reduction Behavior

KW - Self Efficacy

KW - Smoking

KW - Smoking Cessation

KW - Socioeconomic Factors

KW - Tobacco Use Disorder

KW - United States

KW - Young Adult

U2 - 10.1093/ntr/ntq050

DO - 10.1093/ntr/ntq050

M3 - Article

C2 - 20889479

SN - 1469-994X

VL - 12

SP - S4-S11

JO - Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco

JF - Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco

IS - Suppl 1

M1 - N/A

ER -