*Ni Made Dian Kurniasari1,2, Putu Ayu Swandewi Astuti1,2, Ketut Hari Mulyawan1,2, IWG Artawan Eka Putra1,2, Made Kerta Duana1,2, Ketut Suarjana1,2
1Public Health and Preventive Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Udayana
2Udayana CENTRAL (Center for NCDs, Tobacco Control and Lung Health, Universitas Udayana)
Email: dian_kurniasari@unud.ac.id
Background
Research found that smoking is associated with increased risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms. This might influence changes in health behaviors and beliefs among smokers. Thus, this study aimed to assess the smoking behavior among smokers and their intention to quit smoking during pandemic, also to explore their perception on factor that might help them take measures.
Methods
This was quantitative study with a cross-sectional approach conducted in September 2020 in Indonesia. A total of 709 smokers joined through combined purposive and snowball sampling. Data were collected using self-administered online questionnaire which its link shared via social media and WhatsApp group. Data were analysed descriptively.
Results
Respondents were 91% male, has median of age 29, 49.4% has senior high school level of education and 29% worked in private sectors. A 65.9 % smokers smoked everyday and 55% consumed more than 10 cigarettes per day. A 55.2% smokers reduced the cigarettes consumption during pandemic. A total of 88.8% smokers were having intention to quit smoking and 77% responded due to pandemic. Aspects that smokers perceived could encourage them to successfully quit smoking were a concern about family health (73.8%), financial benefits (78.8%), health benefits (77%), self-optimism to quit (57.7%), fear of COVID-19 fatalities (52.2%), family supports (56.6%), health professional supports (51.9%), access to quit smoking services (53.5%) and smoke-free policy at school/workplaces (48.8%)
Conclusion:
Some smokers have reduced cigarettes smoking and were intended to quit smoking due to pandemic. Communicating the risk of smoking to health and its novel risk to COVID-19 complication among smokers along with promoting quit smoking and its benefit should be intensified. Government must provide and massively promote accessible quit smoking services, which also allow family involvement. In addition, smoke-free area implementation should be strengthened.
Keywords:
Quit smoking, smokers, COVID-19 pandemic