| Cigarette smoking continues to be the single most important preventable cause of premature morbidity and mortality in the United States. This retrospective study was undertaken to identify factors that are most important to successful smoking cessation. Pender's Health Promotion Model provided the framework for the study. A descriptive, non-experimental, retrospective design was used for the study. The subjects were adult ex-smokers associated with a community college in western Washington state.;Commitment to good health was identified as the most important factor for successful smoking cessation. This was followed by perceived self-efficacy, family support, support of friends and smoking-related diagnoses. Influence of the health care provider and smoking restrictions were of little importance. Additional factors which emerged in the subjects' narrative responses were pregnancy and a changing attitude toward smoking. The study supports the Health Promotion Model as predictive of health-promoting lifestyle changes. |
