[Motivation to quit smoking among ex-smoker university workers and students].
BACKGROUND
In Chile, 10% of deaths in adults are directly attributed to smoking.


OBJECTIVE
To identify intrinsic and extrinsic motivations to quit smoking among a group of subjects that quitted without external help.


METHODS
The motivations to quit smoking were measured using the 20 items Reasons for Quitting Scale (RFQ), in 145 ex smokers (80 students and 65 workers at The University of Conception). The scale identifies intrinsic motivations in the categories health and self control and extrinsic motivations in the categories immediate reinforcement and social pressure.


RESULTS
Factorial analysis with orthogonal rotation of the 20 items of the scale, suggested an optimal solution with five factors, that had a maximal impact of 0.43 and explained the motivations in up to a 66% of workers and 65% of students. The factors with the greater impact were the items of immediate reinforcement, social pressure and self control. The category health had only a 6% influence in the modification of smoking habits.


CONCLUSIONS
The most important motivations to quit smoking in this sample were an immediate reinforcement, social pressure and self control. The analysis of motivations will help to orient smoking cessation programs.
Behn
V
V
Departamento de Enfermería y Medicina Interna, Facultad de Medicina y Departamento de Ingeniería Matemática, Facultad Ciencias Fisicas y Matemáticas, Universidad de Concepción, Chile. vbehn@udec.cl
Sotomayor
H
H
Cruz
M
M
Naveas
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002677:Chile; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*; D012917:Social Adjustment