Health, price, medical support: a study examines the motivations for quitting smoking

A study conducted in England examines the changing motivations of smokers in their attempts to quit tobacco products. While health-related reasons remain the main reason cited by respondents for quitting, the issue of price is increasingly cited by smokers and former smokers. At the same time, respondents are increasingly less likely to seek advice from a healthcare professional.

The authors surveyed a representative sample of 5,777 smokers or former smokers who had made one or more serious attempts to quit smoking between 2018 and 2023.[1].

Health and price, determining factors in motivation to quit smoking

The results show that health was the main reason given by respondents in their attempts to quit smoking. This reason could be related to a health problem of the respondent, a concern about potential future health problems, the context of COVID-19, pregnancy, etc. The question of the price of tobacco was the second most mentioned reason by respondents in their attempts to quit (22.7%). Nearly one in five respondents indicated that they tried to quit smoking because of social factors (a comment made by a family member, a friend, children, or knowing someone who was quitting smoking). Finally, advice from a health professional motivated 11.6% of respondents in their attempts to quit.

Results vary depending on the individual

The study's authors also show that smokers' motivations can vary depending on the respondents' gender, age, or social status. Thus, while health concerns are a constant factor in the motivation to quit, this reason is more often cited by people over 35, or by people without children. Older people, women, and people from disadvantaged social categories are more likely to be motivated by current health problems, while the opposite is true for potential future health concerns. The price of tobacco is more frequently cited by respondents from the middle social classes (up to 25%), as well as by people who use e-cigarettes. Advice from a health professional was more frequently mentioned by older people, women, and people from disadvantaged social categories.

Motivations that evolve over time and depending on the context

Since the study was conducted between 2018 and 2023, the researchers were able to observe the evolution over time of motivations for quitting smoking, particularly in the context of COVID-19. Thus, the proportion of people citing health reasons increased sharply in 2020 (56.2% in October), before gradually decreasing to its initial level at the end of 2021. For the researchers, this evolution can be attributed to the context of COVID-19, which was characterized by greater public concern about health issues. The issue of price increased sharply over the observed period, being mentioned by 19.1% of respondents in 2018, and by 25.4% in 2023. The proportion of attempts to quit motivated by social factors or by professional advice decreased significantly between 2018 and 2023, going from 21.6% to 16%, and from 14.2% to 8.5% respectively.

Communicate on savings, strengthen support from professionals

For the authors of this study, these results show that communicating about the financial dimension could encourage even more smokers to try to quit smoking. Furthermore, the reduction in the role of health professionals is also linked to the COVID-19 period, which has resulted in a decrease in the quality of care (saturation, delay in access to care, procedures carried out remotely). The researchers also raise the possibility that this decrease is due to a reduction in contact between smokers and health professionals, or to the fact that the latter are not motivated or able to offer support and advice to smokers to accompany them in their attempt to quit. The study, however, points out that the help of a professional in the management of smoking cessation increases the likelihood that the smoker will be referred to treatments whose effectiveness has been scientifically proven.

Keywords: Health, Price, Motivation, Withdrawal

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[1] Sarah E Jackson, Sharon Cox, Vera Buss, Jamie Brown, Valeris Crean - Trends in motives for trying to stop smoking: a population study in England, 2018–2023: BMJ Public Health 2024;2:e000420.