Characteristics of sample and quit attempts
| Smokers (n = 79) | Ex-smokers (n = 67) | Total (n = 146) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| p<0.001 for difference between smokers and ex-smokers by χ2 test. No other variables differed significantly according to smoking status. | |||
| Mean (range) age (years) | 40 (16–78) | 52 (30–84) | 45 (16–84) |
| Number (%) female | 62 (78%) | 45 (67%) | 107 (73%) |
| Mean (range) age started smoking regularly | 17 (9–38) | 18 (10–33) | 17 (9–38) |
| Mean (range) number of cigs per day | 16 (5–37) | 21 (5–68) | 18 (5–68) |
| Mean (range) number of years smoked | 23 (2–60) | 21 (1–49) | 22 (1–60) |
| Mean length of time (range) as an ex-smoker (6 months minimum) | – | 13.3 years (10 m–40 y) | |
| Number of quit attempts | |||
| One | 15 (19%) | 16 (24%) | 31 (21%) |
| Two | 24 (30%) | 16 (24%) | 40 (27%) |
| Three | 17 (22%) | 13 (19%) | 30 (21%) |
| More than three | 23 (29%) | 22 (33%) | 45 (31%) |
| Quitting methods | |||
| No aid | 40 (51%) | 53 (79%)* | 93 (64%) |
| Bupropion | 12 (15%) | 7 (10.5%) | 19 (13%) |
| Patch | 13 (16%) | 2 (3%) | 15 (10%) |
| Nicotine gum | 5 (7%) | 1 (1.5%) | 6 (4%) |
| Tapering | 9 (11%) | 3 (4.5%) | 12 (8%) |
| Hypnosis | – | 1 (1.5%) | 1 (1%) |
| Unplanned or planned quitting | |||
| Unplanned | 29 (37%) | 45 (67%)* | 74 (51%) |
| Planned | 50 (63%) | 22 (33%) | 72 (49%) |
| Reasons for quitting | |||
| Health | 50 (63%) | 43 (64%) | 93 (64%) |
| Cost | 4 (5%) | 1 (2%) | 5 (3%) |
| Disgust with smoking | 4 (5%) | 6 (9%) | 10 (7%) |
| Others | 21 (27%) | 17 (25%) | 38 (26%) |