Barriers Against and Motivations for Quitting Smoking during the COVID-19 Health Crisis: Results of a Qualitative Study in France

Romain Guignard (), Guillemette Quatremère, Anne Pasquereau, Cécile Jartoux, Laure Salvaing, Guillaume Caline, François Beck and Viêt Nguyen Thanh
Additional contact information
Romain Guignard: Santé Publique France, The French National Public Health Agency, 12 Rue Du Val d’Osne, CEDEX, 94415 Saint-Maurice, France
Guillemette Quatremère: Santé Publique France, The French National Public Health Agency, 12 Rue Du Val d’Osne, CEDEX, 94415 Saint-Maurice, France
Anne Pasquereau: Santé Publique France, The French National Public Health Agency, 12 Rue Du Val d’Osne, CEDEX, 94415 Saint-Maurice, France
Cécile Jartoux: Santé Publique France, The French National Public Health Agency, 12 Rue Du Val d’Osne, CEDEX, 94415 Saint-Maurice, France
Laure Salvaing: Kantar Public, 3 Avenue Pierre Masse, 75014 Paris, France
Guillaume Caline: Kantar Public, 3 Avenue Pierre Masse, 75014 Paris, France
François Beck: Santé Publique France, The French National Public Health Agency, 12 Rue Du Val d’Osne, CEDEX, 94415 Saint-Maurice, France
Viêt Nguyen Thanh: Santé Publique France, The French National Public Health Agency, 12 Rue Du Val d’Osne, CEDEX, 94415 Saint-Maurice, France

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 20, 1-11

Abstract: The COVID-19 epidemic and its psychological, economic and social consequences could have an impact on the evolution of tobacco-smoking prevalence and attitudes towards quitting. The aim of this study is to analyse the specific characteristics of the motivations for and barriers against smoking cessation in this period. The study is based on qualitative data collected from late 2020 to early 2021 in France from 89 smokers with a low or intermediate socio-economic level. Among the motivations for quitting smoking, health concerns and the financial cost of cigarettes carried increased importance among the smokers in this period. Inversely, perceived stress, isolation, and a lack of social or healthcare support prevented some smokers from attempting to quit. These results are useful for explaining the evolution of smoking prevalence and preparing future interventions in the context of the health crisis and its aftermath. They highlight the relevance of educational messages, of the promotion of validated smoking-cessation aids and, in particular, remote support, as well as the implementation of community-based actions.

Keywords: COVID-19; tobacco; smoking cessation; motivations; barriers; qualitative study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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