title: Asthma and smoking--healthcare needs and preferences of adults with asthma who smoke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  People with asthma smoke at least as much as, if not more than, people without asthma. The aim of this study was to explore the unique healthcare needs and preferences of smokers with asthma, in terms of smoking topography and initiation, perceived interplay between asthma and smoking, motivation and readiness to quit, and proposed smoking cessation techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative, semi-structured, in-depth telephone interviews with adult smokers who have concurrent asthma were conducted. Participants were recruited through flyers displayed at community pharmacies, general practice surgeries, university campuses, and respiratory clinics of tertiary hospitals and through an advertisement on the "Asthma Foundation" website. Recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using NVivo 10 software (QSR International, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia). Obtained data were content-analysed for emergent themes using the 'framework approach'.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-four semi-structured interviews were conducted. Most participants believed that smoking often worsens their asthma and increases the frequency and severity of their symptoms. Fear of asthma-related exacerbations and poor self-control appeared to be the major triggers for quitting smoking. Most patients reported being motivated to quit smoking; however, in many cases, determination and strong will power need to be coupled with public, social, professional, and therapeutic support to achieve and maintain success.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the unique needs of people with asthma who smoke, it is imperative that evidence-based smoking cessation programs be designed and tailored to assist them in effectively quitting smoking.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Sydney , Sydney, NSW , Australia .
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saba
authors.forename: Emil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dan
authors.forename: Renee
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bittoun
authors.forename: Bandana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Saini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010465:Perception; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Asthma; dependence; healthcare professional; needs; preferences; smoking; smoking cessation