Experiences of nicotine users motivated to quit during the COVID-19 pandemic: a secondary qualitative analysis
Objectives The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light a variety of key factors that affect tobacco use, including behavioural patterns, social support and connection, and physical and mental health. What we do not know is how those motivated to quit were impacted by the pandemic. As such, understand...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMJ Publishing Group
2023-06-01
|
| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/6/e070906.full |
| _version_ | 1797746080900710400 |
|---|---|
| author | Ramona H Sharma Danielle Rodberg Laura L Struik |
| author_facet | Ramona H Sharma Danielle Rodberg Laura L Struik |
| author_sort | Ramona H Sharma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light a variety of key factors that affect tobacco use, including behavioural patterns, social support and connection, and physical and mental health. What we do not know is how those motivated to quit were impacted by the pandemic. As such, understanding the unique experiences and needs of people motivated to quit smoking or vaping during the COVID-19 pandemic is critical. The aim of this study was to examine the cessation experiences of nicotine users during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design We conducted a supplementary secondary analysis of primary qualitative data, i.e., semi-structured interviews with individuals engaged in cigarette use (smoking), e-cigarette use (vaping) and dual use.Setting British Columbia, Canada.Participants Relevant data were drawn from 33 participants out of the primary study’s 80-participant sample pool.Measures Interview questions explored barriers and facilitators to quitting nicotine use. We then used conventional content analysis to identify relevant and additional emergent themes and subthemes surrounding pandemic-specific barriers and facilitators to quitting, and unique needs for cessation support in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.Results Pandemic-specific barriers included lifestyle limitations and poor mental health due to isolation. Facilitators to quitting during the pandemic included reduced access and opportunities to use nicotine products, as well as time for personal reflection on nicotine use behaviours. Suggestions for cessation programming included a primary focus on enhancing social support features (e.g., discussion forums, support groups), followed by increasing awareness of the benefits of quitting, and enhancing visibility of resources available to support quitting.Conclusions The findings provide directions for how cessation supports can be tailored to better meet the needs of users motivated to quit during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T15:32:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e264c7cde96e4040b3bb2a38e8f9969d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T15:32:55Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-e264c7cde96e4040b3bb2a38e8f9969d2023-08-09T23:45:07ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552023-06-0113610.1136/bmjopen-2022-070906Experiences of nicotine users motivated to quit during the COVID-19 pandemic: a secondary qualitative analysisRamona H Sharma0Danielle Rodberg1Laura L Struik21 School of Social Work, The University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada2 School of Nursing, The University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada2 School of Nursing, The University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, British Columbia, CanadaObjectives The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light a variety of key factors that affect tobacco use, including behavioural patterns, social support and connection, and physical and mental health. What we do not know is how those motivated to quit were impacted by the pandemic. As such, understanding the unique experiences and needs of people motivated to quit smoking or vaping during the COVID-19 pandemic is critical. The aim of this study was to examine the cessation experiences of nicotine users during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design We conducted a supplementary secondary analysis of primary qualitative data, i.e., semi-structured interviews with individuals engaged in cigarette use (smoking), e-cigarette use (vaping) and dual use.Setting British Columbia, Canada.Participants Relevant data were drawn from 33 participants out of the primary study’s 80-participant sample pool.Measures Interview questions explored barriers and facilitators to quitting nicotine use. We then used conventional content analysis to identify relevant and additional emergent themes and subthemes surrounding pandemic-specific barriers and facilitators to quitting, and unique needs for cessation support in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.Results Pandemic-specific barriers included lifestyle limitations and poor mental health due to isolation. Facilitators to quitting during the pandemic included reduced access and opportunities to use nicotine products, as well as time for personal reflection on nicotine use behaviours. Suggestions for cessation programming included a primary focus on enhancing social support features (e.g., discussion forums, support groups), followed by increasing awareness of the benefits of quitting, and enhancing visibility of resources available to support quitting.Conclusions The findings provide directions for how cessation supports can be tailored to better meet the needs of users motivated to quit during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/6/e070906.full |
| spellingShingle | Ramona H Sharma Danielle Rodberg Laura L Struik Experiences of nicotine users motivated to quit during the COVID-19 pandemic: a secondary qualitative analysis BMJ Open |
| title | Experiences of nicotine users motivated to quit during the COVID-19 pandemic: a secondary qualitative analysis |
| title_full | Experiences of nicotine users motivated to quit during the COVID-19 pandemic: a secondary qualitative analysis |
| title_fullStr | Experiences of nicotine users motivated to quit during the COVID-19 pandemic: a secondary qualitative analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experiences of nicotine users motivated to quit during the COVID-19 pandemic: a secondary qualitative analysis |
| title_short | Experiences of nicotine users motivated to quit during the COVID-19 pandemic: a secondary qualitative analysis |
| title_sort | experiences of nicotine users motivated to quit during the covid 19 pandemic a secondary qualitative analysis |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/6/e070906.full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ramonahsharma experiencesofnicotineusersmotivatedtoquitduringthecovid19pandemicasecondaryqualitativeanalysis AT daniellerodberg experiencesofnicotineusersmotivatedtoquitduringthecovid19pandemicasecondaryqualitativeanalysis AT lauralstruik experiencesofnicotineusersmotivatedtoquitduringthecovid19pandemicasecondaryqualitativeanalysis |