[I will quit tomorrow... Statistical portrayals of "dissonant smokers'']

Abstract

Background: This article aims to profile dissonant smokers (smokers who want to quit) from various viewpoints: smoking habits, reasons to quit, methods of quitting, health and socio-economic status.

Methods: We used data from a random phone survey (n=13,685, people aged 12-75, including 2,715 dissonant smokers, interwiewed from November to December, 1999). A cluster analysis was performed in order to identify contrasted profiles of dissonant smokers.

Results: 33.1% of French aged 12-75 were current smokers, and among them 58.7% were "dissonant smokers" (they want to quit). Five different profiles of dissonant smokers were studied. Two of them (representing 4 million people) gathered moderate and quite healthy smokers, with many previous smoking cessation attempts. They preferred cessation without medical help and they were not very afraid of smoking-related diseases. A third profile (representing two million people) gathered younger smokers, not really committed to quit since they postponed this project for at least one year, but sensitive to cigarette price. The last two profiles brought together smokers who were for the most part addicted to tobacco. They were also more willing to accept medical help in order to quit smoking. One of these profiles gathered smokers (representing one million people) who were very afraid of smoking-related diseases and affected by poor health and social handicaps.

Conclusions: The variety of dissonant smokers profiles underlines the need to diversify action against tobacco. Moreover, we have to pay attention to the impact of recent fear-arousing media campaigns. They certainly increase awareness of smoking-related health damages. Nevertheless, concerning addicted smokers who already want to quit but are affected by poor health and social handicaps, such campaigns may only increase psychological distress.