Measured, opportunistic, unexpected and naïve quitting: a qualitative grounded theory study of the process of quitting from the ex-smokers’ perspective

BMC Public Health

Research Article

Sally M Dunlop¹  Stacy M Carter²  Andrea L Smith²  Becky Freeman³  Simon Chapman⁴ 

[1] Cancer Screening and Prevention, Cancer Institute NSW, 2015, Eveleigh, NSW, Australia;Centre for Values, Ethics and the Law in Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, 2006, Sydney, NSW, Australia;Prevention Research Collaboration, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, 2006, Sydney, NSW, Australia;School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, 2006, Sydney, NSW, Australia;

关键词: Qualitative;    Grounded theory;    Smoking cessation;    Catastrophe theory;    Stages of change;    Dual process theory;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-017-4326-4

 received in 2016-10-27, accepted in 2017-04-27,  发布年份 2017

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundTo better understand the process of quitting from the ex-smokers’ perspective, and to explore the role spontaneity and planning play in quitting.MethodsQualitative grounded theory study using in-depth interviews with 37 Australian adult ex-smokers (24–68 years; 15 males, 22 females) who quit smoking in the past 6–24 months (26 quit unassisted; 11 used assistance).ResultsBased on participants’ accounts of quitting, we propose a typology of quitting experiences: measured, opportunistic, unexpected and naïve. Two key features integral to participants’ accounts of their quitting experiences were used as the basis of the typology: (1) the apparent onset of quitting (gradual through to sudden); and (2) the degree to which the smoker appeared to have prepared for quitting (no evidence through to clear evidence of preparation). The resulting 2 × 2 matrix of quitting experiences took into consideration three additional characteristics: (1) the presence or absence of a clearly identifiable trigger; (2) the amount of effort (cognitive and practical) involved in quitting; and (3) the type of cognitive process that characterised the quitting experience (reflective; impulsive; reflective and impulsive).ConclusionsQuitting typically included elements of spontaneity (impulsive behaviour) and preparation (reflective behaviour), and, importantly, the investment of time and cognitive effort by participants prior to quitting. Remarkably few participants quit completely out-of-the-blue with little or no preparation. Findings are discussed in relation to stages-of-change theory, catastrophe theory, and dual process theories, focusing on how dual process theories may provide a way of conceptualising how quitting can include elements of both spontaneity and preparation.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2017