The using of the 5A for change in smoking behavior at the medical service clinics, Pathum Health Promoting Hospital

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effect of the 5A’s for change in smoking behavior at the medical service clinics. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Pathum Health Promoting Hospital, between October 2015 and September 2016. The participants were 60 smokers who received the consult in the smoking cessation program and over aged 15. Data were collected by using baseline and smoking behavior questionnaire, Fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence, Tobacco and health flip charts, used 5A’s for smoking cessation and the stages of change model to assess stop smoking every 3 months (at 1, 3, 6 months). All results were described using descriptive statistics.

Our results showed that most of the participants were male (90%), all participants having a low dependence on nicotine, and they are still smoking because of a tobacco familiarity and needs to social acceptance. 25 (41.66%) of participants reported stop smoking after 1 month in the intervention of smoking cessation program, 16 participants were a chronic disease and household, 32 participants were reducing smoking, only 3 participants were still smoking. Moreover, we found 21(35%) participants were stop smoking after 6 months. Only 4 participants were repeating smoking because of a friend influence and having family stresses. However, we found that the factors induced to success in smoking cessation were: health condition of themselves, families’ health, and expenses of a pack of cigarettes.

To conclude, a primary care intervention based on the 5A’s for smoking cessation can be finding a motivation to stop smoking and can have a significant effect in reducing smoking prevalence in this population, as well as also helps to make a stronger relationship with the community. Therefore, the healthcare professionals and healthcare volunteers should be received intensive and interactive workshop based on the 5A’s for effective change in smoking cessation.