Predictors of Intention to Quit Smoking Among Jordanian University Students

Abstract

Purpose: To identify predictors that influence tobacco smoking cessation among Jordanian college students and to test the utility of the Trans-Theoretical Model for future cessation programs in this population. Method: A cross-sectional survey of randomly selected college students (18 to 22 years of age) who were smokers was conducted at two Jordanian universities. The surveys included the: Tobacco Use Questionnaire; Tobacco Use Self-Efficacy; Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale; Barriers to Cessation; and the Fagerstrom Tobacco Nicotine Dependency Scale. Due to the complex nature of the contextual and individual factors related to smoking behaviour, a structural equation modeling approach was used to identify variables that may influence participation in tobacco smoking cessation programs. Results: There was a 75% response rate with a total of 800 students (90% male) completing the survey. Three factors were identified as major contributors toward quitting smoking: a) a high stage of readiness, b) previous experience with barriers to smoking cessation, and c) past experience with quitting. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the value of smoking cessation programs should not be measured on recidivism rates alone. The implications are that such programs should make return to treatment easy and as guilt free as possible to improve ultimate long-term smoking abstinence.

Culturally Tailored Smoking Cessation for Arab American Male Smokers in Community Settings: A Pilot Study

“…This test showed a high level of validity and reliability 14. It was used at the Stage Two face-to-face interview.Modified Fagerstorm Test for Tobacco Nicotine Dependence (FTND)15—This is an eight-item measure that determines the level of nicotine dependency or addiction. It asks how soon tobacco use begins each day, which cigarettes during the day a person could do without, how smokers cope in places where they cannot smoke, and how much and how deeply they smoke.…”

Quit history, intentions to quit, and reasons for considering quitting among tobacco users in India: Findings from the Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation India Wave 1 Survey

“…9–13 In Malaysia and Thailand, independent predictors of staying quit were being older (55+), urban residence, smoking abstinence for six months or more in the past and less smoking frequency per day, higher level of self-efficacy, and having had an intention to quit within one month. 7 Past experience with quitting, 14 having a positive attitude toward quitting, 15 higher self-efficacy, and high level of readiness to quit 16 were positively associated with intentions. Similarly, in the current study, the individuals who had tried to quit in the past also had a stronger intention to quit in future.…”

Effectiveness of a Culturally-Tailored Smoking Cessation Intervention for Arab-American Men

“…Indeed, the prevalence of cigarette smoking among men in the Middle East is very high (63% men, 10% women) [6,7] and once in the United States, the prevalence is approximately 20%–30% higher among ARA men than among the general U.S. adult male population. ARA men also have a lower quitting ratio compared to U.S. adult males [8,9,10,11,12,13], perhaps because many ARAs come from countries where tobacco use among men is culturally appropriate.…”