The COVID-19 Pandemic and Smoking Cessation—A Real-Time Data Analysis from the Polish National Quitline

Paweł Koczkodaj, Magdalena Cedzyńska, Irena Przepiórka, Krzysztof Przewoźniak, Elwira Gliwska, Agata Ciuba, Joanna Didkowska and Marta Mańczuk
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Paweł Koczkodaj: Cancer Epidemiology and Primary Prevention Department, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland
Magdalena Cedzyńska: Cancer Epidemiology and Primary Prevention Department, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland
Irena Przepiórka: Cancer Epidemiology and Primary Prevention Department, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland
Krzysztof Przewoźniak: Cancer Epidemiology and Primary Prevention Department, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland
Elwira Gliwska: Cancer Epidemiology and Primary Prevention Department, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland
Agata Ciuba: Cancer Epidemiology and Primary Prevention Department, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland
Joanna Didkowska: Cancer Epidemiology and Primary Prevention Department, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland
Marta Mańczuk: Cancer Epidemiology and Primary Prevention Department, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 4, 1-13

Abstract: Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, tobacco research has delivered new evidence on the harmfulness of smoking in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the course of the COVID-19 disease. More and more research proves that smoking is an important risk factor contributing to increased risk of mortality among COVID-19 patients. The aim of this study was to assess whether and how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted decisions about quitting smoking. A total of 4072 records of anonymized data were obtained from the Polish National Quitline. Between 15 April 2020 and 31 May 2021, the callers were asked about the COVID-19 pandemic and its influence on their decisions on smoking continuation or cessation. Our results indicate that smokers are very receptive to communication concerning COVID-19 and smoking risk. This phenomenon can possibly be connected to the immediate potential health consequences of smoking and COVID-19 virus infection. Results may indicate that putting emphasis on arguments combined with short-term health consequences of smoking may result in better outcomes in smoking cessation. There is a need for further and constant education on tobacco-related health harm. Our results showed that an irregular and mass communication on health consequences may result in high effectiveness in smoking cessation.

Keywords: tobacco; smoking; smoking cessation; COVID-19; pandemic; Poland (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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