Are patients ready to quit smoking? E.V. LADYGIN, N.V. MARTYNOVA, L.V. SMITYUKHOVA, V.I. BURTSEV, A.M. KALININA
1
Multidisciplinary Medical Organization, Moscowm Russia, 123182;
2
National Medical Research Center for Preventive Medicine, Moscow,
Russia, 101990
For the rational and goal-oriented planning of practical measures taken to provide medical care for quitting smoking, it is important
to have science-based data on the attitude of smokers and their readiness to stop smoking and to take account of these specific
features when rendering medical care.
Objective — to investigate attitudes towards tobacco smoking, motivational level, and readiness of smoking patients visiting the
medical institutions to stop smoking.
Material and methods. A social survey of patients visiting the healthcare facilities on different occasions was conducted in 10
healthcare facilities. The self-completed questionnaire was anonymous, which consisted of 15 questions of the nature, duration,
intensity of smoking, as well as the symptoms of nicotine dependence, as assessed by the Fagenstrom test. A total of 1114 people
(94.5% response rate) were surveyed. Statistical data processing was performed by the methods of descriptive statistics using the
program Statistica 7.
Results. Among the smoking patients, the mean smoking duration was 19.1 years for men and 14.5 years for women; the onset of
smoking was mainly at the age when the probability that environmental factors could influence in a team (during studies and
work) was highest. One-quarter (25.9%) of the smokers had symptoms of nicotine dependence, including its high (16.7%) and
very high (9.2%) degrees. There was an inverse correlation between the magnitude of nicotine dependence and the degree of
motivation to quit smoking and a direct relationship to the need for medical assistance for smoking cessation. Chronic diseases
and respiratory symptoms in the smokers were unrelated to their desire to stop smoking.