The views and experiences of smokers who quit smoking unassisted. A systematic review of the qualitative evidence.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Unassisted cessation - quitting without pharmacological or professional support - is an enduring phenomenon. Unassisted cessation persists even in nations advanced in tobacco control where cessation assistance such as nicotine replacement therapy, the stop-smoking medications bupropion and varenicline, and behavioural assistance are readily available. We review the qualitative literature on the views and experiences of smokers who quit unassisted.

Method

We systematically searched for peer-reviewed qualitative studies reporting on smokers who quit unassisted. We identified 11 studies and used a technique based on Thomas and Harden's method of thematic synthesis to discern key themes relating to unassisted cessation, and to then group related themes into overarchin

SUBMITTER: Smith AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4444295 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature