Abstract
The objectives of this study are to describe patterns and factors associated with smoking cessation attempts and their outcome in adolescents in Tabuk city, Saudi Arabia. A cross sectional survey was carried out using a self-administered questionnaire on smoking habits and smoking cessation. The setting was general education schools in Tabuk city, Saudi Arabia. Subjects of the study were: Male and female students aged 12-25 years who ever smoked. Outcome measures were: Smoking cessation attempts and their outcome, as defined by smoking status: currently smoking or currently not smoking for at least the past 30 days. The sample included 1505 students of whom 657 (43.7%) were ever smokers and of those 134 (20.4%) never attempted quitting and those differed significantly from smokers who attempted quitting in intensity of smoking, attitudes towards smoking and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) at home and public places. Of the 520 smokers who attempted quitting 321 (61.4%) were classified as quitters as they were not smoking for at least 30 days prior to date of study. Univariate analysis showed that quitters differed significantly from non-quitters in intensity, attitudes towards smoking and ETS at home and public places. Discriminant analysis showed that continuing smokers, smoke more cigarettes daily and have more smoking friends.
Cigarette smoking is prevalent among adolescents in Tabuk. The majority of smokers attempted to quit and failure is associated with intensity, smoking contacts and positive attitudes towards smoking. These factors need to be considered in antismoking activities.