| Summary: | Background
Despite
well-established advantages of smoking cessation in the prevention and treatment
of myocardial infarction (MI) many patients continue smoking after a diagnosis
of MI. Recent evidence suggests that higher self-efficacy (SE), or confidence
in one's ability to abstain from smoking, is positively associated with successful
smoking cessation attempts. This study aimed to investigate the association
between SE and smoking cessation outcome at 6 to 12 months after MI in Armenia.
Methods
Cross-sectional survey was conducted among smoker
adult MI patients who were hospitalized at the largest cardiac hospital in
Armenia (Nork-Marash Medical Center). Data collection was done at 6 to 12
months after MI through medical chart review and interviewer administered
telephone survey. SE at the time of MI was measured through widely used and
validated Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (SEQ-12). SEQ-12 consists of two six-item
subscales which measure confidence in aptitude to abstain from smoking when
facing internal stimuli (e.g. feeling nervous) and external stimuli (e.g. being
with a smoker). Logistic regression analysis was performed to reveal the
association between SE and quitting outcome.
Results
About
half (54.37%) of 103 surveyed participants quitted smoking after MI. The mean SE
score was 33.55 (SD: 16.49) (out of possible 60) which was significantly higher
among quitters compared to non-quitters (45.55 vs. 19.26, p< 0.001). Likewise,
the difference between was significant in terms of both internal and external subscale
scores. Adjusted logistic regression elucidated that each unit increase in SE score
was associated with 1.3 times higher odds of quitting (95% CI: 1.17-1.44;
p< 0.001).
Conclusions
The
results illustrated that SE is an independent predictor of smoking cessation after
MI suggesting that increase in patients' confidence in ability to abstain from
smoking will contribute to successful cessation outcomes. This emphasized the
importance of behavioral interventions in encouraging and assisting smoking
cessation attempts among MI patients.
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