Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2015;16(15):6741-7.
doi: 10.7314/apjcp.2015.16.15.6741.

Intention to Quit Smoking among Intermediate and Secondary School Students in Saudi Arabia

Abdulmohsen Hamdan Al-Zalabani  1 , Ayat Roushdy Abdallah, Reem Ibrahim Alqabshawi
Affiliations
Free article

Intention to Quit Smoking among Intermediate and Secondary School Students in Saudi Arabia

Abdulmohsen Hamdan Al-Zalabani et al. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2015.
Free article

Abstract

Background: Smoking is one of the most preventable causes of disease and death, including cancer, and quitting at an early age can reduce smoking-related morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and to identify factors affecting the "intention to quit" among intermediate and secondary school current cigarette smoker students in Al Madinah city, Saudi Arabia.

Materials and methods: This study cohort included 307 current smoker students in a school-based survey. The intention to quit and its related determinants were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire.

Results: More than half of the participants were ≥17 years, and of male gender (54.7%, 77.9% respectively). An intention to quit smoking was reported in 71.7% of participants, and was been significantly associated with: male gender (OR=3.25, 95% CI=1.65-6.41): age at 1st trial of smoking. 10-15 years (OR=2.11, 95% CI=1.03-4.32) along with age of ≥15 years (OR=3.10, 95% CI=1.20-7.88); days of smoking in the past 30 days (days<10 (OR=2.31, 95% CI=1.23-4.35) along with days ranging from 10-19 days (OR= 3.42, 95% CI=1.18-9.91); knowing that smoking is hazardous to health (OR=3.04, 95% CI=1.42-6.47); and finally, supporting smoking bans in public places (OR=1.89, 95% CI=1.11-3.25).

Conclusions: A substantial number of participants were willing to quit smoking. Effective interventions focusing on providing information about the hazards of smoking and prohibiting smoking in public places could help initiate the intention to quit among youth smokers.

PubMed Disclaimer