ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND. In India, 92.4% of adults believe that smoking causes serious illness. However, only 55.4% of them are either willing or getting ready to quit. This indicates an explicit gap between perception and practice.
AIM. This study aims to identify individual knowledge, attitude, practices, barriers and motivators for tobacco cessation amongst smokers.
MATERIAL AND METHODS. A cross-sectional study was carried out amongst the smokers visiting dental outpatient department at tertiary health care centre at Rohtak district of Haryana, India. A structured and validated questionnaire was developed to ascertain knowledge, attitude, practice and nicotine dependence amongst the tobacco smokers. Additionally information about their willingness to quit tobacco, barriers and motivators for tobacco cessation were obtained. The study population was broadly divided into two groups on the basis of any previous attempts made for quitting tobacco use.
RESULTS. Among the sample of 371 smokers, 52.4% were found to make quit attempts while 47.6% never attempted to quit. Participants believed that smoking not only helps in socializing but also it is a good way to cope from the stress. Peer pressure was the major reason for initiation of habit of smoking. Those who have attempted to quit but could not do so for more than 6 months were more willing to quit. Concern for health and tobacco addiction was the major facilitator and barriers of tobacco cessation respectively.
CONCLUSION. Comprehending the population before chalking down the tobacco cessation strategies is important. Lower education, higher alcohol consumption, longer duration of tobacco intake, cultural and social acceptability of tobacco use and nicotine dependence was the major roadblocks for tobacco cessation amongst the tobacco smokers. Cold turkey method was the most common choice of tobacco cessation who attempted to quit.