An Investigation into the Smoking Cessation Behavior and Smoking Cessation Methods of Teenagers

This study aims to explore the influencing factors of smoke cessation behavior and methods for teenagers. Cross-sectional survey is conducted to collect data with teenagers in Taiwan. The research tool is questionnaire which is developed based on health belief theory and self-efficacy theory. A total 423 valid questionnaires were received and data were analyzed by difference analysis and regression. This study find out that 38.7% responders do not want to quit smoking and 49.7% responders consider quitting smoking in the near future. Only 10.6% responders are in the process of smoke cessation. Most of the responders who considered quitting smoking decide to rely on personal willpower to quit smoking. The most important factors affecting smoke cessation behavior of teenagers are severity of tobacco hazard disease, perceived barriers of tobacco disease and self-efficacy. As for the influencing factors of smoke cessation factors, the logistic regression results show that perceived severity of tobacco hazard disease, perceived benefits of quitting smoking, perceived barriers of quitting smoking, cues to action and self-efficacy have significant impaction. This study argues that enhancing teenagers’ self-efficacy will also make smoke cessation easier and confidentially. Consequently, the family, the school and the government should undertake more responsibility to educate smoking teenagers about the diseases caused by tobaccos and induce them quit smoking as earlier as possible.