Quit smoking behaviours and intentions and hard-core smoking in New South Wales

Quitting intentions and behaviours of smokers require monitoring. In particular, assessment of the distribution of smokers on the quitting continuum and of the proportion of hard-core smokers has implications for the design of future quit campaigns.

Cross-sectional survey of 1,509 persons (74.4% consent rate) randomly selected from the New South Wales Electronic White Pages. 1,431 respondents were eligible (aged 18 and over).

Current smokers comprised 19.1% (n=274) and former smokers 28.0% (n=400). Sixty-one per cent of current smokers had quit for at least one day in the last year and 67.1% were in the intermediate or advanced preparation levels of the quitting continuum. Half of the smokers (46.7%) recalled receiving cessation advice during a past-year medical visit. Sixty-four point five per cent (64.5%) of smokers and 63.4% of former smokers reported no use of assistance in their quit attempts. Five point five per cent (5.5%) of smokers aged 26 and over met the hard-core criteria.

Most smokers want to quit but when making a quit attempt do not use proven, effective strategies. Relapse rates are high in the immediate post-cessation period.