Dataset Information

A qualitative study exploring older smokers' attitudes and motivation toward quitting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT: Older individuals who smoke are at increased risk of having severe outcomes from COVID-19, due to their long-term smoking and underlying health conditions. In this qualitative study, we explored the impact of COVID-19 on attitudes toward smoking and motivation to quit. Participants (N = 30) were enrolled in a larger ongoing randomized controlled smoking cessation trial conducted in the lung cancer screening setting. From March to May 2020, we assessed quantitative and qualitative responses to participants' overall concern about COVID-19, changes in amount smoked, and motivation to reduce/quit smoking. Responses to the quantitative questions indicated that 64.3% of participants were extremely concerned with COVID-19, 20.7% reported reductions in amount smoked, and 37.9% reported increased motivation to quit. The qualitative responses, which were transcribed and coded using Consensual Qualitative Research guidelines, expanded upon these findings by providing the content of participants' concerns, which included perceived risk of contracting COVID-19, the added stressors caused by COVID-19, and a variable impact on the amount smoked and motivation to quit. Although half of participants expressed extreme concern regarding COVID-19, fewer indicated increased motivation or reduced smoking. Qualitative themes suggested that the initial two months of the pandemic prompted some smokers to reduce or quit, but it exacerbated smoking triggers for others. Understanding how the pandemic continues to affect this vulnerable group will aid in adapting methods to support their efforts to stop smoking and remain abstinent.

SUBMITTER: Cordon M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8044671 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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A qualitative study exploring older smokers' attitudes and motivation toward quitting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cordon Marisa M Eyestone Ellie E Hutchison Sarah S Dunlap Daisy D Smith Laney L Williams Randi M RM Kim Emily E Kao Jen-Yuan JY Hurtado-de-Mendoza Alejandra A Stanton Cassandra C Davis Kimberly K Frey Jennifer J McKee Brady B Parikh Vicky V Taylor Kathryn L KL

Preventive medicine reports 20210311

Older individuals who smoke are at increased risk of having severe outcomes from COVID-19, due to their long-term smoking and underlying health conditions. In this qualitative study, we explored the impact of COVID-19 on attitudes toward smoking and motivation to quit. Participants (N = 30) were enrolled in a larger ongoing randomized controlled smoking cessation trial conducted in the lung cancer screening setting. From March to May 2020, we assessed quantitative and qualitative responses to pa ...[more]

PMID: 33868901

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Project description:ObjectivesTo investigate whether age is associated with access to smoking cessation services.DesignData from the Smoking Toolkit Study 2006-2015, a repeated multiwave cross-sectional household survey (n=181 157).SettingEngland.ParticipantsPast-year smokers who participated in any of the 102 waves stratified into age groups.Outcome measuresAmount smoked and nicotine dependency, self-reported quit attempts and use of smoking cessation interventions. Self-report of whether the general practitioner (GP) raised the topic of smoking and made referrals for pharmacological support (prescription of nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs)) or other support (counselling or support groups).ResultsOlder smokers (75+ years) were less likely to report that they were attempting to quit smoking or seek help from a GP, despite being less nicotine-dependent. GPs raised smoking as a topic equally across all age groups, but smokers aged 70+ were more likely not to be referred for NRT or other support (ORs relative to 16-54 years; 70-74 years 1.27, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.55; 75-79 years 1.87, 95% CI 1.43 to 2.44; 80+ years 3.16, 95% CI 2.20 to 4.55; p value for trend <0.001).ConclusionsOur findings suggest that there are potential missed opportunities in facilitating smoking cessation in older smokers. In this large population-based study, older smokers appeared less interested in quitting and were less likely to be offered support, despite being less addicted to nicotine than younger smokers. It is unclear whether this constitutes inequitable access to services or reflects informed choices by older smokers and their GPs. Future research is needed to understand why older smokers and GPs do not pursue smoking cessation. Service provision should consider how best to reduce these variations, and a stronger effectiveness evidence base is required to support commissioning for this older population so that, where appropriate, older smokers are not missing out on smoking cessation therapies and the health benefits of cessation at older ages.

Dataset Information

A qualitative study exploring older smokers' attitudes and motivation toward quitting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Publications

A qualitative study exploring older smokers' attitudes and motivation toward quitting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Similar Datasets

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