Effect of an intensive tobacco cessation program on the smoker narrative: A content analysis and grounded theory

The smoker's narrative during smoking quitting provides insight into aspects not fully explored in daily clinical practice. The aim of the study was to analyze the smoker narrative using two types of methodologies: content analysis and grounded theory, before and after smoking cessation intervention, provided to the smoker in a specialized Smoking Cessation Unit accredited by the Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery.

A prospective observational study of current smokers included in a tobacco cessation program between 2017 and 2020 was conducted at the Smoking Cessation Unit of Santiago de Compostela Health Area, Spain. Routine clinical variables and patient narrative data were collected. A descriptive analysis of the sample, the content of the textual corpus, and a grounded theory were performed in semi-structured interviews at baseline and at follow-up at 6 months.

A total of 116 patients were included (mean age 55.6 ± 10.6 years; 56.9% male; mean nicotine dependence score 5.7 ± 1.6). Quantitative analysis of the narrative shows that the most frequent phrases and words are associated with smoking, nicotine craving, and predisposition for smoking cessation. After the intervention, phrases related to the manifestation of abstinence, response to pharmacological treatment, and self-perception of smoking cessation were predominant. In the qualitative analysis, the most frequent categories in the smoker's textual corpus were dependence, motivation, and emotionality, which decreased after the intervention (11.4%, 21.4%, and 9.9%, respectively) accompanied by increased satisfaction (19.2%) and the manifestation of abstinence (21.5%).

Motivation, nicotine dependence, and sensitivity to emotions are all closely intertwined in the current smoker narrative and can be modified as a consequence of treatment.