title: Redefining smoking and the self as a nonsmoker.
abstract: A grounded theory approach was used to develop a substantive theory answering the question, What are older adults' experiences who have quit smoking? Interviews were conducted with 21 elders with a mean age of 67 years who had quit smoking for a minimum of 3 months and a maximum of 5 years. Data analysis yielded a core variable redefining smoking and the self as a nonsmoker, which was indicated by the major theoretical categories of recognizing the need to quit, making the decision, learning to be a nonsmoker, and sustaining as a nonsmoker. Participants actually changed their views about smoking and themselves as smokers. They believed that they were vulnerable because of their ages and that age and smoking were a problematic combination. Findings support that nurses and other health care providers can assist older adults in the process of quitting smoking.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Valparalso University, USA.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012649:Self Concept; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires