The change phase that smoking healthcare workers experience and related factors according to the transteoretical model

This study was conducted cross-sectionally at the Practice and Research Hospital in Aydın Adnan Menderes University to ascertain the stage of change and related factors of smoking healthcare workers according to the transtheoretical model. The universe of the research consists of 182 people who have been trying to quit smoking in the last six months and working at the Practice and Research Hospital in Aydın Adnan Menderes University between 2019 and 2020. A questionnaire was administered by the researcher by providing a suitable interview environment in the aforementioned institution and by meeting face-to-face with the participants. According to the "Transtheoretical Model" (TTM), the "Phases of Change", the "Questionnaire Form" produced by the researcher, "Fagerström Nicotine Dependency Scale" and "Beck Depression Scale" were employed as data collection tools. The collected data were assessed in the SPSS 21.0 statistical package program. Average and percentage values were used for descriptive findings in the assessment of the data. Chi-square and student t-tests were applied to reveal the features which we questioned the relationship with the dependent variable, and the related factors were re-assessed with the multivariate logistic regression test. The significance level was accepted as 0.05. In the study, 55.5% (n=101) of the participants were female and 44.50% (n=81) were male and 145 (79.67%) were under the age of 40, and the average age of the participants was 30.9 (±7.8). The change phases of the participants according to the Transtheoretical Model are respectively; those not considering quitting are 70 (38.46%), the ones considering are 24 (13.19%), those who are ready to quit are 68 (37.36%), and the ones who take action are 20 (10.99%). According to the Fagerström Nicotine Addiction test; 92 (50.50%) individuals have very low dependency, 37 (20.30%) have low dependency, 16 (8.80%) have low level of addiction; for 22 (12.10%), addiction is at a high level, and 15 (8.20%) have a high level of addiction. According to the Beck Depression Scale, 108 (59.30%) were in a minimal depression, 38 (20.90%) were in mild depression, 32 (17.60%) were in a moderate depression and 4 (2.20%) were in severe depression. In multivariate analyses, individuals who consumed 1-10 cigarettes daily were found 4,5 times more likely to be ready for intervention than those who consumed 11 or more cigarettes daily (95% CI 1.9-10.6). Individuals who have tried to quit smoking in the past year were 2.8 times more ready for intervention than those who have tried to quit for more than a year (95% CI 1.2-6.8); on the other hand, individuals with three or more quitting experiences were 2.7 times more ready for intervention (95% CI 1.2-6.1) compared to those with 2 or fewer attempts. There was a significant relationship (p = 0.028) in the single variable analysis of the suggestion variable (p = 0.028), while it lost its relevance with the readiness to intervene in multiple analyses (p>0,05). No significant relationship was found between the readiness of quitting smoking and sociodemographic characteristics of individuals, other smoking-related features, Fagerström nicotine addiction level and beck depression level. Following these data, it was concluded that there exists a relationship between individuals' readiness to quit smoking and the number of cigarettes smoked daily, the number of attempts to quit smoking, and the last time of the attempt.It can be reevaluated on these findings, which are important in tobacco control and have support programs for smoking cessation in the role model of the society. Thanks to these findings, the development of smoking cessation support programs for healthcare professionals who have an important role in tobacco control and could be a role model for the society can be re-evaluated.