Characteristics of patients with COPD in three motivational stages related to smoking cessation.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in different motivational stages related to smoking cessation.


METHODS
633 smoking COPD patients from 67 general practices participated in a cross-sectional study. The patients were compared with respect to health indicators, demographics, self-efficacy, nicotine dependence, attitudes, and action plans.


RESULTS
In line with previous Dutch results, smokers in precontemplation associated significantly fewer advantages with smoking cessation than smokers contemplating quitting and preparing to quit. Preparers had significantly higher self-efficacy expectations about quitting than the other smokers. Patients preparing to quit suffered from more COPD complaints than precontemplators. Smokers contemplating quitting and preparing to quit developed more plans to turn intentions to quit into action.


CONCLUSIONS
More than 50% of the smokers with COPD are amenable to smoking cessation support. Preparers and contemplators did not differ as much as previous studies found. It would be advantageous to tailor COPD counseling to two distinct groups (unmotivated smokers and smokers motivated to quit), to discuss the advantages of quitting with unmotivated smokers, and to increase self-efficacy, and action planning for smokers motivated to quit.


CONCLUSIONS
COPD patients are amenable to counseling to quit smoking. Addressing COPD complaints may contribute to greater motivation.
Hilberink
Sander R
SR
University Medical Centre Nijmegen St. Radboud, Centre for Quality of Care Research (WOK), KWAZO 229, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. S.Hilberink@kwazo.umcn.nl
Jacobs
Johanna E
JE
Schlösser
Maryanne
M
Grol
Richard P T M
RP
de Vries
Hein
H
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009042:Motivation; D009426:Netherlands; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires