title: Stages of smoking cessation among Malaysian adults--findings from national health morbidity survey 2006.
abstract: Increasing the rate of smoking cessation will reduce the burden of diseases related to smoking, including cancer. Understanding the process of smoking cessation is a pre-requisite to planning and developing effective programs to enhance the rate of smoking cessation.The aims of the study were to determine the demographic distribution of smokers across the initial stages of smoking cessation (the pre-contemplation and contemplation stages) and to identify the predictors of smoking cessation among Malaysian adult smokers. Data were extracted from a population-based, cross-sectional survey carried out from April 2006 to July 2006. The distribution of 2,716,743 current smokers across the pre-contemplation stage (no intention to quit smoking in the next six months) or contemplation stage (intended to quit smoking in the next six months) was described. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between socio-demographic variables and the stages of smoking cessation. Of the 2,716,743 current smokers, approximately 30% and 70% were in the pre-contemplative and contemplative stages of smoking cessation respectively. Multivariable analysis showed that male gender, low education level, older age group, married and those from higher income group and number of cigarettes smoked were associated with higher likelihood of pre-contemplation to cease smoking in the next six months. The majority of current smokers in Malaysia were in the contemplative stage of smoking cessation. Specific interventions should be implemented to ensure the pre-contemplative smokers proceed to the contemplative stage and eventually to the preparation stage.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Public Health, Jalan Pahang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. keelimkota@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Kuang Hock
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Normala
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: Sumarni Mohd
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ghazali
authors.forename: Chee Cheong
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Kee
authors.forename: Kuang Kuay
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Ying Ying
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Chien Huey
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Teh
authors.forename: Eng Ong
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Tee
authors.forename: Wai Yee
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Mohd Haniki
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Nik Mohamad
authors.forename: Sherina Mohd
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sidek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult