Predictors of successful and unsuccessful quit attempts among smokers motivated to quit.
BACKGROUND
Despite their positive motivation to quit, many smokers do not attempt to quit or relapse soon after their quit attempt. This study investigated the predictors of successful and unsuccessful quit attempts among smokers motivated to quit smoking.


METHODS
We conducted secondary data analysis among respondents motivated to quit within 6 months, randomized to the control group (N=570) of a Web-based smoking cessation intervention study. Using chi-square tests and ANOVA with Tukey post hoc comparisons, we investigated baseline differences by smoking status (successful quitter/relapse/persistent smoker) assessed after 6 weeks (N=214). To identify independent predictors of smoking status, multivariate multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted.


RESULTS
Successful quitters at 6-week follow-up (26%) had reported significantly higher baseline levels of self-efficacy than relapsers (45%) and persistent smokers (29%). Furthermore, both successful quitters and relapsers had reported a significantly higher baseline intention to quit than persistent smokers and successful quitters had reported significantly more preparatory planning at baseline than persistent smokers. Results from regression analyses showed that smokers' baseline intention to quit positively predicted quit attempts reported after 6 weeks, while self-efficacy positively predicted quit attempt success.


CONCLUSIONS
Different factors appear to play a role in predicting quit attempts and their success. Whereas intention to quit only appeared to play a role in predicting quit attempts, self-efficacy was the main factor predicting quit attempt success. More research is needed to determine the role of preparatory planning and plan enactment and to investigate whether these findings can be replicated on the long term.
Department of Health Promotion, Maastricht University/CAPHRI, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Communication Science, Amsterdam School of Communication Research/ASCoR, University of Amsterdam, Kloveniersburgwal 48, 1012 CX, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address: E.S.Smit@uva.nl.
Eline Suzanne
ES
Smit
Department of Health Promotion, Maastricht University/CAPHRI, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
Ciska
C
Hoving
Department of Health Services Research, Maastricht University/CAPHRI, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Research and Development, Public Health Service South Limburg, P.O. Box 2022, 6160 HA, Geleen, the Netherlands.
Karen
K
Schelleman-Offermans
Cancer Research UK, Health Behaviour Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
Robert
R
West
Department of Health Promotion, Maastricht University/CAPHRI, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
Hein
H
de Vries
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation / Q000502:physiology*; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D012008:Recurrence; D020377:Self Efficacy; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology
Longitudinal research; Predictors; Quit attempt; Quit attempt success; Smoking