Experience of smokers and recent quitters with smokefree regulations and quitting.
BACKGROUND
Bans on smoking in public areas have increased as knowledge of secondhand smoke dangers has grown. Restrictions on smoking in public areas may lead to less smoking and increased quitting.


OBJECTIVE
This study examines the experiences of smokers and recent quitters with local smokefree regulations to better understand the possible mechanisms by which smokefree regulations affect individual tobacco users' patterns of tobacco consumption and quitting.


METHODS
Fifteen in-depth interviews and thirteen focus groups were conducted with tobacco users and recent quitters formerly enrolled in cessation programs provided by ClearWay Minnesota(SM). Data were collected 3 months after smokefree legislation was adopted in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area in 2006, and were stratified by tobacco use status and strength of regulation. Essential themes were extracted using NVivo 8 software in 2011.


RESULTS
Study participants reported that smokefree legislation forced them to confront their addiction. They experienced apprehension, frustration, and panic anticipating smoking restrictions. This motivated some to attempt to quit, whereas others felt punished by and angry at government intrusion. Both current and former tobacco users felt smokefree regulations contributed to stigmatizing smokers. They also reported smokefree legislation reduced the temptation to smoke. The physical absence of cigarette smoke in bars and restaurants appeared to support quit attempts. The inconvenience of smoking outside was reported to have a similar effect.


CONCLUSIONS
Essential mechanisms by which bans influenced patterns of tobacco use and quitting include confronting addiction, temptation, inconvenience, and social norms. These findings highlight the success of tobacco control advocates in denormalizing tobacco use, and suggest that some tobacco users may be internalizing negative messages about tobacco.
Professional Data Analysts, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414, USA. abetzner@pdastats.com
Anne E
AE
Betzner
Raymond G
RG
Boyle
Michael G
MG
Luxenberg
Barbara A
BA
Schillo
Paula A
PA
Keller
Julie
J
Rainey
Traci
T
Capesius
Jessie E
JE
Saul
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D012147:Restaurants / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D057545:Social Stigma; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D055815:Young Adult
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution