title: Tobacco cessation in a population over age 15 years: a community-based survey in Alexandria.
abstract: A survey of 2120 adults in Alexandria, Egypt, studied the determinants and patterns of tobacco cessation among ever smokers. Ever smokers were 30.7% of respondents; only 3.5% had given up smoking (quit ratio of 11.4%). The quit ratio was significantly lower for ex-daily smokers (7.5%) than for ex-occasional smokers (44.8%). Among current smokers, 56.3% were between the contemplation and preparatory phases for quitting, whereas 25.1% were in the action phase of attempting to quit, for an average duration of 2.5 months, before relapsing. Health concerns were the motive for all ex-smokers and 95.0% of attempters, but craving for nicotine was the commonest reason for relapse. Tobacco cessation was predicted by older age of tobacco initiation, shorter duration of use, presence of health problems and a perception of the benefits of quitting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt. randayoussef@link.net
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Youssef
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Abou Khatwa
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Fouad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015897:Comorbidity; D004522:Educational Status; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012008:Recurrence; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*