Factors associated with quitting areca (betel) quid chewing.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to provide useful data for a future abstinence project by identifying the factors related to quitting areca (betel) quid chewing.


METHODS
The study was cross-sectional. Data on demographic variables, psychological factors and substance-use behaviors were collected via questionnaires from 326 participants.


RESULTS
Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that the areca/betel quid chewers who were less educated (OR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.34-0.98) were least likely to try to give up. Among the chewers who tried to quit, those employed as full-time drivers (OR = 2.24, 95% CI = 1.14-4.39), who had drinking habits (OR = 2.41, 95% CI = 1.24-4.66), and who preferred to chew only betel quid wrapped with leaf (OR = 4.44, 95% CI = 1.99-9.90) were more likely to fail. Chewers who successfully quit had a higher internal health locus of control compared with those who failed to quit (one-point increments, OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.90-0.98).


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that health educators and researchers can better influence people's chewing behavior if the importance of chewers' education level, job type, substance use (i.e. drinking habits, type of betel quid), and level of health locus of control are all taken into consideration when devising interventions.
Lai
Ching-Shiun
CS
Graduate Institute of Oral Health Sciences, College of Dental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Shieh
Tien-Yu
TY
Yang
Yi-Hsin Connie
YH
Chong
Mian-Yoon
MY
Hung
Hsin-Chia
HC
Tsai
Chi-Cheng
CC
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001114:Areca; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D006184:Habits; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D012907:Smoking