Learning Objectives: Compare smoker's attitudes about cost of cigarettes and the relationship with readiness to quit.
Abstract:
Problem/Objective:
Smoking poses financial and health burdens to both the individual and society. We studied attitudes of smokers on financial aspects of smoking before and after quitting.
Methods:
Day one questionnaire, participants were asked their "reasons for quitting" with common reasons listed, one being "cost of cigarettes". Participants self-graded "readiness to quit" on a scale of 1 to 10. On the last day, participants who quit were surveyed the "perceived benefits since quitting" one being "money saved". Data was collected 1999 thru 2003.
Results:
440 participants enrolled in the program, 213 [48.4%] reported "cost of cigarettes" as reason for quitting. There was no association between citing cost as a reason to quit and high readiness to quit, (7 or more of 10), (chi-square test, P=0.0640). Of those reporting high readiness to quit, only 46.1% cited cost as a factor, whereas 56.6% reporting low readiness to quit considered cost as a reason to quit. No significant association between citing cost, and sex, (chi-square test), age or pack years (Mann-Whitney test). Survey of 191 (43.4%) smokers who quit revealed only 10.0% reported "money saved" as a benefit. Majority (81%)reported "improvement in health status" as most tangible benefit of quitting.
Conclusions:
Those with high [score 7 or more of 10) readiness attitudes towards quitting are not likely to cite cost of cigarettes as reason for quitting. Many participants did see cost as factor for quitting; yet only 10% appreciated financial benefit after quitting. Participants did cite immediate improvement in health after quitting. Clinicians cannot rely upon attitudes about cost of smoking as the sole marker for their readiness to quit.
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