SynthesisPloS one2015
The views and experiences of smokers who quit smoking unassisted. A systematic review of the qualitative evidence.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed.
- Nicotine replacement treatment, e-cigarettes and an online behavioural intervention to reduce relapse in recent ex-smokers: a multinational four-arm RCT.Health technology assessment (Winchester, England) · 2020Trial
- Unpacking willpower in unassisted smoking cessation: a qualitative analysis reveals a systematic profile of situational and cognitive strategies.Health psychology and behavioral medicine · 2026Article
- The Natural Trajectory of Smoking Cessation Among Cancer Patients Who Want to Quit "On Their Own": A Mixed-Methods, Longitudinal Study.Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco · 2024Article
- Barriers and facilitators for smoking cessation in chronic smokers with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease enrolled in a randomized intervention trial: A qualitative study.Frontiers in psychology · 2023Article
- Tobacco use among Kola Sámi, the indigenous people of the Murmansk region, Russia: A cross-sectional study.International journal of circumpolar health · 2022Article
- Tobacco Use and Tobacco Treatment Referral Response of Patients With Cancer: Implementation Outcomes at a National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center.JCO oncology practice · 2022Article
- Mixed methods evaluation of the 'real-world' implementation of group-based behavioral stop smoking support through Facebook.Tobacco prevention & cessation · 2022Article
- Smoking Cessation Experience in Indonesia: Does the Non-smoking Wife Play a Role?Frontiers in psychology · 2021Article
- Health worker and patient views on implementation of smoking cessation in routine tuberculosis care.NPJ primary care respiratory medicine · 2019Article
- Association between women's perceived ideal gestational weight gain during pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes.Scientific reports · 2018Article
- A scoping review of men, masculinities, and smoking behavior: The importance of settings.Global health action · 2018Article
- Perceived role of motivation and self-efficacy in smoking cessation: A secondary data analysis.Addictive behaviors · 2016Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundUnassisted cessation - quitting without pharmacological or professional support - is an enduring phenomenon. Unassisted cessation persists even in nations advanced in tobacco control where cessation assistance such as nicotine replacement therapy, the stop-smoking medications bupropion and varenicline, and behavioural assistance are readily available. We review the qualitative literature on the views and experiences of smokers who quit unassisted.
methodWe systematically searched for peer-reviewed qualitative studies reporting on smokers who quit unassisted. We identified 11 studies and used a technique based on Thomas and Harden's method of thematic synthesis to discern key themes relating to unassisted cessation, and to then group related themes into overarching concepts.
findingsThe three concepts identified as important to smokers who quit unassisted were: motivation, willpower and commitment. Motivation, although widely reported, had only one clear meaning, that is 'the reason for quitting'. Willpower was perceived to be a method of quitting, a strategy to counteract cravings or urges, or a personal quality or trait fundamental to quitting success. Commitment was equated to seriousness or resoluteness, was perceived as key to successful quitting, and was often used to distinguish earlier failed quit attempts from the final successful quit attempt. Commitment had different dimensions. It appeared that commitment could be tentative or provisional, and also cumulative, that is, commitment could be built upon as the quit attempt progressed.
conclusionA better understanding of what motivation, willpower and commitment mean from the smoker's perspective may provide new insights and direction for smoking cessation research and practice.
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