An evaluation study of a gender-specific smoking cessation program to help Hong Kong Chinese women quit smoking. (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Ho; Chan, Sophia; Wan, Zoe; Wang, Man; Lam, Tai
• Is Part Of: BMC public health. Volume 15:Number 1(2015)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 9
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: Chinese -- Counselling -- Gender-specific -- Smoking cessation program -- Women smokers; Public health -- Periodicals; 362.105
• DOI: 10.1186/s12889-015-2326-9
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-2458

Abstract

Abstract Background There is a lack of population-based smoking cessation interventions targeting woman smokers in Hong Kong, and in Asia generally. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a gender-specific smoking cessation program for female smokers in Hong Kong. Methods To evaluate the effectiveness of the service, a total of 457 eligible smokers were recruited. After the baseline questionnaire had been completed, a cessation counseling intervention was given by a trained counselor according to the stage of readiness to quit. Self-reported seven-day point prevalence of abstinence and reduction of cigarette consumption (≥50 %) and self-efficacy in rejecting tobacco were documented at one week and at two, three and six months. Results The 7-day point prevalence quit rate was 28.4 % (130/457), and 21.9 % (100/457) had reduced their cigarette consumption by at least 50 % at the six-month follow-up. The average daily cigarette consumption was reduced from 8.3 at baseline to 6.3 at six months. Moreover, both internal and external stimuli of anti-smoking self-efficacy increased from baseline to six months. Conclusions The study provides some evidence for the effectiveness of the gender-specific smoking cessation program for female smokers. Furthermore, helping smokers to improve their self-efficacy in resisting both internal and external stimuli of tobacco use can be a way of enhancing the effectiveness of a smoking cessation intervention.