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Associations of changes in smoking-related practices with quit attempt and smoking consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-methods study
Introduction
How changes in smoking routine due to COVID-19 restrictions (e.g.
refraining from smoking outdoors and stockpiling tobacco products) influence
smoking behaviors remains understudied. We examined the associations of
changes in smoking-related practices with quit attempts and smoking consumption
in current smokers using a mixed-methods design.
Methods
In a community-based telephone survey conducted between the second
and third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong, 659 smokers (87.1%
male; 45.2% aged 40โ59 years) were asked about quit attempts and changes in
cigarette consumption and five smoking-related practices since the COVID-19
outbreak. Logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratio (AOR),
adjusting for sex, age, education level, chronic disease status, heaviness of smoking
(HSI), psychological distress (PHQ-4) and perceived danger of COVID-19. A
subsample of 34 smokers provided qualitative data through semi-structured
interviews for thematic analyses.
Results
Favorable changes in smoking-related practices, including having avoided
smoking on the street (prevalence: 58.9%) and reduced going out to buy cigarettes
(33.5%), were associated with a quit attempt (AOR: 2.09 to 2.26; p<0.01) and
smoking reduction (AOR: 1.76 to 4.97; p<0.05). Avoiding smoking with other
smokers (50.5%) was associated with smoking reduction (AOR=1.76; p 0.05). Unfavorable changes, including having
increased smoking at home (25.0%) and stockpiled tobacco products (19.6%), were
associated with increased smoking (AOR: 2.84 to 6.20; p<0.05). Low HSI (0โ2)
was associated with favorable changes (p<0.01), while high HSI score (3โ6) was
associated with unfavorable changes (p<0.01). Qualitative interviews revealed a
double-edged effect of staying at home on smoking consumption and that pandemic
precautionary measures (e.g. mask-wearing) reduced outdoor smoking.
Conclusions
Amid the pandemic, favorable changes in smoking-related practices
in smokers were mostly associated with quit attempts and smoking reduction,
while unfavorable changes were associated with increased smoking. Smokers with
higher nicotine dependence were more negatively impacted