A qualitative study of the difficulties of smoking cessation; health care professionals' and smokers' points of view.
OBJECTIVE
To obtain a deeper understanding of smokers feelings and to establish co-operative networking groups, the opinions about smoking cessation of health care professionals and smokers were studied.


METHODS
Focus group discussions were held in order to gain ideas and tools to be used in smoking cessation work, in particular in network groups. Two focus group discussion for health care professionals (n = 7) and one focus group discussion for ex-smokers/smokers (n = 3) were held.


RESULTS
The study suggests that problems exist in smoking cessation work among health care professionals. The main issues among the health care professionals were lack of motivation and consistency of approach. Information concerning the health risk related to smoking no longer reaches people. New ways of health promotion are desired. Smokers feel that lack of positive support and nicotine dependence are the main problems in their attempts to quit.


CONCLUSIONS
Society and smokers have the same goal: smoking cessation. However, both parties do not seem to agree on ways of achieving this goal. A local network among health care professionals could motivate and give rise to new methods of smoking cessation counselling. Positive support and nicotine replacement therapy could significantly improve smokers success rates. Trained personnel have better opportunities for meeting smokers and that is why cessation should be part of the core curriculum and basic training for health care professionals.
Rajamäki
Heli
H
Department of Pharmacy, Palmenia Centre for Research and Continuing Education, P.O. Box 42, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland. nina.katajavuori@helsinki.fi
Katajavuori
Nina
N
Järvinen
Päivi
P
Hakuli
Terhi
T
Teräsalmi
Eeva
E
Pietilä
Kirsi
K
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017144:Focus Groups / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*