title: What factors are important in smoking cessation and relapse in women from deprived communities? A qualitative study in Southeast England.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Women are relatively more susceptible to smoking-related diseases and find it more difficult to quit; however, little research exists on factors associated with smoking cessation and relapse in women. We examined attitudes towards and perceptions of factors associated with smoking cessation and relapse in women from deprived communities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative interview study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants included eleven women, smokers and ex-smokers, from disadvantaged communities in East Sussex, England, who had used the National Health Service (NHS) stop smoking service. Data were collected through a focus group and semi-structured interviews, and subjected to thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants opined that it is more difficult for women to quit smoking than men. Women felt that postcessation weight gain was inevitable and acted as a barrier to quitting. Hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle and greater levels of stress were perceived as obstacles to quitting and reasons for relapse. Conversely, the women cited effects of smoking on physical appearance, oral hygiene and guilt about exposing children to passive smoke as powerful motivators to quit; and highlighted the impact of public health campaigns that focused on these factors. Views diverged on whether quitting with someone close to you is a help or hindrance. Other themes including alcohol intake, daily routine and being in the presence of smokers emerged as situational triggers of relapse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interventions that address women's concerns related to postcessation weight gain, hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle and stress may aid with smoking cessation and reduce relapse. Public health campaigns should consider the impact of smoking on physical appearance and the effect of passive smoke on children.
authors.affiliation: Division of Primary Care and Public Health, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK. Electronic address: a.memon@bsms.ac.uk.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Memon
authors.affiliation: Division of Primary Care and Public Health, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barber
authors.affiliation: Division of Primary Care and Public Health, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rumsby
authors.affiliation: Division of Primary Care and Public Health, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.affiliation: Division of Primary Care and Public Health, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mohebati
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK.
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: de Visser
authors.affiliation: Public Health Directorate, Brighton and Hove City Council, Brighton, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Venables
authors.affiliation: Brighton and Hove, National Health Service (NHS) Stop Smoking Service, Brighton, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fairhurst
authors.affiliation: Public Health Directorate, Brighton and Hove City Council, Brighton, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.affiliation: Division of Primary Care and Public Health, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sundin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011204:Poverty Areas; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Deprived communities; NHS stop smoking service; Smoking cessation; Women