Abstract:

Objective To investigate the quitting history and quitting intention of elderly smokers with chronic diseases, to analyze relevant political influencing factors, and to explore new ideas for tobacco control strategies. Methods Elderly smokers with chronic diseases in Waigang community of Jiading District were selected and the self-designed questionnaire was used to conduct the survey. Data was input by the EpiData 3.1 and statistically analyzed by the SPSS 20.0. Results Among 430 respondents, 138 (32.1%) had tried quitting and 69 (50.0%) in 138 respondents only tried once, while 68 (49.3%) in 138 respondents tried twice or more. Nearly half of them failed to quit within 3 months, which is the critical period of cessation. At present, only 56 (13.0%) respondents had quitting intention and 16 respondents had specific quitting date. Among 234 respondents who did not receive free hypertension drugs, 70 of them were willing to quit smoking for free hypertension drugs. The percentage of respondents with quitting intention increased from 14.1% to 29.9% (P=0.000, OR=10.208, 95%CI=4.305-24.204). The percentage of respondents with quitting intention who had received health education within 1 month was 20.5%, which was higher than that (8.8%) of respondents who had not received health education (P=0.001, OR=2.677, 95%CI=1.512-4.741). Conclusion The awareness of tobacco hazards and the quitting intention of elderly smokers with chronic diseases in Waigang community are weak. Tobacco control education have an effect on the quitting intention. Special education that aims at diseases should be conducted and it is also a new idea for tobacco control that free drugs can be used to inspire smokers with chronic diseases to quit smoking.

Key words: chronic disease, quitting intention, tobacco control