141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

283446
Factors influencing the success of smoking cessation among adolescents

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Shu-Yu Lyu, MPH, PhD , School of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
Ying-Chen Chi, MBA, PhD , Department of Education and Research, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan
Juo-Pu Chen , School of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
Ruey-Yu Chen, MS, PhD , School of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
BACKGROUND: In addition to traditional behavioral interventions, in 2004 the Bureau of Health Promotion (BHP) in Taiwan initiated a new program to encourage smoking cessation through pharmaceutical subsidies. However, while pharmaceutical treatment for smoking cessation is restricted to adult smokers aged 18 and older, adolescent smokers can only rely on behavioral interventions alone. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore factors influencing the success of smoking cessation among adolescents from the perspective of health professionals. We further sought to identify which situations were high-risk for relapse. METHODS: This study utilized a self-administered mailed questionnaire census survey administered to key health professionals sourced from those nationwide BHP contracted hospitals and health centers providing both pharmaceutical and educational interventions for adult smoking cessation in 2012. RESULTS: Altogether, 512 out of the total 611 questionnaires were returned achieving a response rate of 84%. Of these, 113 (23%) provided behavioral intervention programs for adolescent smokers. Based on the results of the multiple response questionnaires, the key health professionals thought that the three major factors in cessation success include having clear cessation motivation (64%), social support from friends and relatives (43%), and willpower (41%). The three most high-risk situations identified for smoking relapse included peer temptation (95%), having smoking family members (67%), and encountering stressful events (35%). Conclusion: Current smoking cessation programs for adolescent smokers are insufficient. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to environmental factors and peer influence, thus future intervention programs will need to be cognizant of these hurdles to achieve sustainable results.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education
Public health or related public policy
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Identify the factors influencing the success of adolescent smoking cessation. Describe the factors which cause the failure of adolescent smoking cessation. Identify high-risk situations for adolescent smoking relapse. Discuss cultural sensitive strategies for quitting smoking among adolescents.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Smoking Cessation

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the PI of this study.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.