Table 2 Quitting strategies
From: Factors motivating smoking cessation: a cross-sectional study in a lower-middle-income country
Variable | N = 330 n (%) |
|---|---|
What mode of quitting did you primarily use when you successfully quit smoking? | |
Abrupt Cessation/Cold Turkey | 205 (62.1) |
Gradual Reduction | 125 (37.9) |
Cessation Aid Used | 36 (10.9) |
Smoking and Self-Discipline | |
“I told myself that it is a matter of my own choice to smoke or not” | 168 (50.9) |
“I told myself that I have the willpower with me to quit” | 128 (38.8) |
“I told myself that if I try hard enough, I can resist the urge to smoke” | 68 (20.6) |
“I made self-promises not to smoke” | 58 (17.6) |
How did you distract yourself from smoking when you felt the urge to smoke? | |
Consciously Diverting Thoughts to Other Matters | 123 (37.3) |
Tried to Keep Hands/Fingers Occupied | 114 (34.5) |
Engaged in Work | 95 (28.8) |
Engaged in Physical Exercise | 87 (26.4) |
Engaged in Hobbies | 72 (21.8) |
Positive Reinforcement Strategies | |
“I expected rewards from others when I successfully resisted the urge to smoke” | 78 (23.6) |
“I received rewards from others when I successfully resisted the urge to smoke” | 63 (19.1) |
“Others tried to make me feel good about myself when I resisted the urge to smoke” | 19 (5.8) |
“I rewarded myself when I successfully resisted the urge to smoke” | 16 (4.8) |
Did you avoid triggers causing the urge to smoke (such as a favorite sofa/location)? | 94 (28.5) |
Did you avoid social company that encouraged you to smoke? | 153 (46.4) |
Do you believe you have quit definitively? | |
Yes | 277 (83.9) |
No | 13 (3.9) |
Unsure | 40 (12.1) |
How difficult was it to give up smoking? | |
Very Difficult/Difficult | 211 (63.9) |
Neither Difficult nor Easy | 69 (20.9) |
Very Easy/Easy | 50 (15.2) |
How frequently do you think about taking up smoking again? | |
Never | 207 (62.7) |
Sometimes | 97 (29.4) |
Often | 26 (7.9) |