Motivation to Quit Smoking Among Veterans Diagnosed with Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Disorders

Abstract

While smoking, psychiatric and substance abuse disorders are high among veterans, there is considerable controversy over providing smoking cessation interventions to those suffering with psychiatric and substance abuse disorders. The objective of this study was to determine motivation to quit smoking among veterans experiencing psychiatric and substance abuse disorders. A convenience sample of patients recruited at a primarily psychiatric Veterans Affairs hospital completed a self-administered survey (N = 146). Means or frequencies were calculated for all variables. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were examined to determine the association between psychiatric or substance abuse disorders and opinions about the importance of quitting smoking to health, thinking of quitting smoking in the next 30 days, and interest in receiving smoking cessation services. Psychiatric and substance abuse disorders were reported among 74% and 64% of patients, respectively. After controlling for nicotine dependence, age, race/ethnicity, and employment status, veterans with psychiatric disorders had 2.6 times greater odds of thinking that quitting smoking was very or extremely important to their health (p = 0.05) and 4.4 times greater odds of thinking of quitting using tobacco products in the next 30 days (p = 0.02) compared to those without psychiatric disorders. There were no differences in motivation to quit smoking among those with and without substance abuse disorders. Veterans with psychiatric disorders are motivated to quit smoking and should be offered cessation services. Veterans with substance abuse disorders may need interventions to enhance motivation to quit.

Evaluation and costs of volunteer telephone cessation follow-up counseling for Veteran smokers discharged from inpatient units: a quasi-experimental, mixed methods study

“…However, those admitted for psychiatric/substance abuse tended to be less likely to quit. Research has shown that those with psychiatric and substance abuse disorders are interested in quitting [ 18 ], although quitting can be difficult among this population [ 19 ].…”

Effects of a Motivational Interviewing Smoking Cessation Program on Nicotine Dependence, Smoking-Related Attitude, and Abstinence Self-Efficacy in Inpatients with Mental Disorders

“…선행연구에 따르면 흡연 정신질환자들도 일반인과 동일 하게 금연을 위해 도움 받기를 원하고 [10], 실제로 금연치 료나 중재가 정신질환자의 금연에 도움을 줄 수 있다고 보 고되었다 [11]. 다만 인지 및 사회적 기능, 정서적 문제를 가진 조현병, 양극성 장애, 우울장애 등의 정신질환자가 성공적으로 금연을 실천하도록 하기 위해서는 일반인 대 상으로 개발된 금연 프로그램은 효과적이지 않고 이들의 특성을 반영한 금연 프로그램이 제공될 필요가 있다 [8,12].…”

Effectiveness of the Tobacco Tactics Program for Psychiatric Inpatient Veterans: An Implementation Study

“…Targeted, cessation initiatives are needed in this population, especially in the inpatient setting, which when compared to outpatient programs, tend to enroll more smokers and result in higher cessation rates (Duffy et al, 2008;Rigotti et al, 2007). Veteran smokers with mental illness are motivated to quit and appear to benefit from exposure to evidence-based tobacco cessation treatments (Duffy, Essenmacher, Karvonen-Gutierrez, & Ewing, 2010;Solty et al, 2009;Williams & Ziedonis, 2004). Thus, the inpatient setting provides an excellent opportunity to provide cessation services to this at-risk population.…”

“…Integrating smoking cessation services into standard of care on inpatient psychiatric units has the potential to capture more smokers and result in higher cessation rates (Duffy et al, 2008;Hall & Prochaska, 2009;Rigotti et al, 2007). Coupled with the fact that the majority of studies have shown that Veterans with psychiatric conditions are motivated to quit smoking, yet many still do not receive smoking cessation services, failure to address tobacco use during the inpatient hospital stay is a large missed opportunity with this vulnerable population (Duffy, Essenmacher, Karvonen-Gutierrez, & Ewing, 2010;Solty, Crockfrod, White, & Currie, 2009;Williams & Ziedonis, 2004).…”

“…While there has been reluctance to address tobacco use among those with psychiatric illness, studies have shown that Veterans with psychiatric conditions are motivated to quit smoking and should be offered cessation services (Duffy, Essenmacher, Karvonen-Gutierrez, & Ewing, 2010;Solty, Crockfrod, White, & Currie, 2009;Williams & Ziedonis, 2004). For example, integrating smoking cessation treatment with outpatient mental health care is efficacious in maintaining prolonged smoking abstinence in Veterans (McFall, Atkins, Kanter, & Saxon AJ, 2006;McFall et al, 2010;Saxon et al, 2005).…”