A characterisation of smokers and factors influencing motivation to stop smoking

Smoking is currently a leading public health priority. Profiling smokers allows for adequate intervention strategies and it is important to assess smokers' motivation.

To calculate the rate of smokers in 4 files from 3 Health Centres in Coimbra and characterise smokers in terms of demographics, consumption pattern, motivation for smoking cessation and co -morbidities. Investigate the relationship between motivation to stop smoking and age, gender, consumption and age at starting smoking and cardiovascular, respiratory and psychiatric co -morbidities.

Descriptive study with analytical component. Accessible population: 15 -65 year old patients from 4 files from 3 Health Centres in Coimbra seen July - August 2007. Data treatment: SPSS 17.

224 randomly interviewed patients, 64.3% women; mean age 44.9 years old. Rate of smokers was 17% (52.63% female). Smokers' mean age was 39.4 years old. The mean age at starting smoking was 17.2 years old (16.4 in men). Mean cigarette consumption was 17.5/day (13.3 in women). 47.4% was poorly motivated, 52.6% moderate/highly motivated. 50% of the smokers had co -morbidities. There was no association between any of these factors and smoking cessation motivation.

The results are similar to other national studies. There were more younger female smokers than male, but females smoked fewer cigarettes/day. In this study the most frequent co- -morbidities were cardiovascular and psychiatric. Only half of the smokers were motivated to stop smoking.