A Qualitative Study of the Impact of COVID-19 on Smoking Behavior for Participants in a Post-Hospitalization Smoking Cessation Trial

Kristina Schnitzer, Sarah Jones, Jennifer H. K. Kelley, Hilary A. Tindle, Nancy A. Rigotti and Gina R. Kruse
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Kristina Schnitzer: Tobacco Research and Treatment Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
Sarah Jones: Tobacco Research and Treatment Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
Jennifer H. K. Kelley: Tobacco Research and Treatment Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
Hilary A. Tindle: Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
Nancy A. Rigotti: Tobacco Research and Treatment Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
Gina R. Kruse: Tobacco Research and Treatment Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 10, 1-12

Abstract: (1) Background: COVID-19 has substantially altered individual environments and behaviors. We aim to explore the impact of COVID-19 on the smoking behavior of individuals trying to quit tobacco. (2) Methods: This study presents a qualitative analysis of individual interviews focused on perceived impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on tobacco use among 39 participants in the Helping HAND 4 (HH4) post-hospitalization smoking cessation trial (NCT03603496). (3) Results: Emergent impacts of COVID-19 included change in routine, isolation, employment changes, and financial challenges; these in turn were associated with boredom, altered cravings and triggers, and increased stress. The availability of effective coping mechanisms instead of smoking to deal with stress heavily influenced subsequent smoking behavior. These results were triangulated with the Transactional Model of Stress, providing a framework to elucidate connections between factors such as perceived control, self-efficacy, and dispositional coping style, and highlighting potential areas for intervention. (4) Conclusions: Results suggest that stress during the COVID-19 pandemic may undermine effective coping skills among individuals enrolled in a post-hospitalization smoking cessation trial. Strengthening effective coping skills (e.g., minimizing the use of tobacco as a default stress response) and increasing perceived control and self-efficacy are promising intervention targets.

Keywords: COVID-19; smoking cessation; qualitative interviews; Transactional Model of Stress (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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