The Perceived Impact of COVID-19 among Treatment-Seeking Smokers: A Mixed Methods Approach

Zoe Rosoff-Verbit, Erin Logue-Chamberlain, Jessica Fishman, Janet Audrain-McGovern, Larry Hawk, Martin Mahoney, Alexa Mazur and Rebecca Ashare
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Zoe Rosoff-Verbit: Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
Erin Logue-Chamberlain: Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
Jessica Fishman: Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
Janet Audrain-McGovern: Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
Larry Hawk: Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
Martin Mahoney: Department of Internal Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
Alexa Mazur: Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
Rebecca Ashare: Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 2, 1-12

Abstract: The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on behavioral health, including tobacco use, are not fully known. The current study sought to measure the perceived impact of COVID-19 and the resulting stay-at-home orders in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Buffalo, New York on smokers enrolled in four smoking cessation trials between March 2020 and July 2020. The survey collected quantitative data regarding life changes due to COVID-19, health/exposure status, and the impact on their cessation attempt (e.g., motivation to quit, change in triggers). The questionnaire collected qualitative data to better understand how such changes could explain changes in smoking behavior. Of the 42 participants surveyed, approximately half indicated that COVID-19 changed their motivation and ability to quit or remain quit. Among those who reported that it was easier to quit following the stay-at-home orders ( n = 24), most attributed this to concerns regarding the severity of COVID-19 among smokers. Among those who reported more difficulty quitting ( n = 15), most attributed this to their increased stress due to the pandemic and the inability to access activities, places, or people that could help them manage triggers. Given public health warnings of continued surges in COVID-19, these data provide insight into who may benefit from further smoking cessation support should existing restrictions or new stay-at-home orders be enacted.

Keywords: smoking cessation; tobacco use; theory of planned behavior; COVID-19; coronavirus (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 (4)

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