Smoking cessation in women with severe mental illness: exploring the role of exercise as an adjunct treatment.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of exercise in smoking cessation in women with severe mental illness (SMI).


METHODS
Semistructured interviews with 12 women diagnosed with SMI receiving smoking cessation treatment were conducted.


RESULTS
Participants perceived three roles for exercise in assisting smoking cessation--addressing fears with preexisting chronic health conditions, emotion management and distraction, and weight management. Most participants identified health care providers (HCPs) as needing to play a supportive role in integrating exercise into smoking cessation attempts.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings support a potential role for exercise in facilitating smoking cessation among women with SMI.


CONCLUSIONS
HCPs should consider developing referral links with exercise specialists to facilitate smoking cessation in women with SMI.
Faculty of Physical Education and Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. kelly.arbour@utoronto.ca
Kelly P
KP
Arbour-Nicitopoulos
Guy E
GE
Faulkner
Tony A
TA
Cohn
Peter
P
Selby
D001294:Attitude to Health; D002170:Canada; D004644:Emotions; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology; D015431:Weight Loss